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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.# 






I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ! 



T II 1-; 



H i; 8 TORY 



OF 



HAEWINTON, 



C O N N E C T T C r T 



-^ 



Bv H \[ AXXTXa CHIPMAN 



II A PvTFORT): 
PRESS OF WILLIAMS, WILEV & TT'R\Kli> 

Parle Priiuin." Offloo, LOS Asylum St.. 
1 --<1< >. 






(^0-33^8' 



TO Till-: 

NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC-GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, 

f I) I s 'i!') i s t r n , 

PUKr.\Ili:i> UY ONK OK TIIKIK KAKI.rKST-CIIO.SEX 

fOBKESI'O.VUIXC MEMBKlt^!, IS. WITH EXI'RKSSIOXS OF Till: ALTIIORS 

f'OXTlXUKD DKSIUK fOU TIIKIU I'ltOSI'tlMTV. 

|{i'<<|ii-ciriill V IriMcrilx'tl. 



PREFACE. 



A cenliiij of its imiiikipal oxisttuco was coinplolcil Ity lliiiwinloii, in the vrar 
pighteoa hundred juul thirty-seven. The facts, regarding it, wliidi as viewed from 
jnst tlio close of that perioil seemed to be the more wortliy of notice, were prcsjcnicd 
then in pulpit discourses delivered by the pastor of the (Congregational) Church in 
the Town. "When of late there began to be desire that a History of the Town should 
Ik? prepared, those discourses, remembered as probably containing outlines or ru1>- 
stanco for such a narrative, were brought into review. After there had been 8\il>- 
triicted from them such portions mainl)- as, suggested by the subject, were more 
germane to a Sabbath-days ministration than to a purpose not thus restricted, there 
was left the basis of the following work. The first movement towards publiciition 
hiul respect to that residuum, without addition of matter and without alteration of 
form. Enlargement and changes liocame desirable when recurrence to ' the old 
fDUuts' of information had brought forth ncwsupjilies; while investigation made in 
quarters not before resorted to discovered more. The recast, which fused the older 
mid the newer materials together, partially mlmitted the shape before chosen: by 
the retention, in a few paragraphs transferred, of the style distinctive in personal 
a'ldress. 

Ill tlio direct narrative as well as in the ApiH^ndix Vvill lie found fuller details 
than the di.scourses gave of the things which, as "old" in eighteen hundred ;uitl 
thirty-seven, were then '"ready to vanish away.' These additions comprise alto 
a sufficient account of the things "which cnmo newly up:" and so bring the narra- 
tive down to the current time. In the added matter are ineludwl all the notices 
furnislK'*! to the writer, of the Kpi.scopal Church whiili has lx>en established or rv- 
ostabli.she<.l in Ilarwinton, since tlie diil<' i f his residem-e then'. 

When a locality not of Connecticiit i.s nametl in the siK-cco4ling pagv.s, the iSialo 
to which it pertains is usually spocifio*!. The e^iacs cxccptt'd arc those whose pub- 
licity or s<jmo other circumstanco made that si)Cciflcntion ueetUess. 



(3 

W preparing the memorial of 'merely a Town' requires uo prolbuud' iuvesiiga- 
tiou, it does exact careful inquiry. ' The old Town Records,' such as they too often 
were made, have, along with their ' general character ' which is obvious, their ' par- 
ticular characters ' which, though to be found on ' the surface '—if any where, they 
disclose only to thorough 'explorers.' 'The spirit' of them always is dark, in pro- 
portion as 'the letter' of them is light. The darkness that is not in them makes 
them obscure. " To set forth in order a declaration of those things" which often 
"without order" are reposited in them, goes quite as slowly as surely, embarassed 
thus. On this introductory trouble others press ; so that " the begmning of sor- 
rows" from such an 'excess of light' is soon recognized to be in effect a promise, 
quite as 'relialile' as is 'the paper' that makes it, of a 'to be continued' to the 
more than 'twice-told tale' of 'the pursuit of knowledge under difSculties.' Who- 
ever tries the task is likely to find a way of being mentally ' exercised.' As is said 
in the preface to the History of "Waterbury, Connecticut: " Those wlio have been en- 
gaged in a similar undertaking need not be told the labor it has cost ; and those who 
have not would not comprehend me, though I should attempt to tell them." Yet 
the perplexity brings after it pleasure whicli, not pecuniarily, however, is a reward. 
Even runes thus, when well deciphered, well repay the toil. To one who makes 
for himself companions of the ' characters,' neglected and humble now and withal 
very jja?e, that once in their assumed sufficiency' could hardly tolerate society, since 
with themselves alone was primitively ' engrossed ' all the area of the ' Town Libra- 
ry;' there is certainly this assurance given, that not only extended and complex 
treatises, but ' short and simple annals ' also, will in their own way remunerate the 
attention he bestows on them, for in these, too, he learns man. 

The writer's obligations to Hon. Abijah Catlin, of Harwinton, for the list of 
Soldiers and of Representatives by him furnished, and to Gaylord Wells, M. D., of 
West Hartford, for facts by him communicated, are gratefully acknowledged. 

Having reference throughout to household use, this book aims to shed a kind in- 
fluence on every Harwinton home. 

Guilford, December, 1858. 

Delay in sending the work to press has furnished an opportunity to take from 
The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor a few dates, not previously ob- 
tained, respecting a part of the Windsor first settlers hi Harwinton ; as well as to 
bring down a few other personal items to tiie time hereto subsigncd. 

WOLCOTTVILLE, May, 1860. 



CONTENTS 



Pn(?e. 

CHArTEK I. IXTROnrf'TORV. 

^^nlall Towns important, ..... <»-! 1 

("H.VPTKK n. YOUR F.VTnf'.RS. 

Preparatory events, - - - - - - ll-i:'. 

Connecticut prosperinfr, - • • • 13-14 

Evil-workers, - ■ ■ • • • l.> 

Kandolpli and Andross, - - - • ■ KJ 

Hartford and Windsor rs. the State. - - - • IG-llt 

Division of "tlie Western Lands," - • • \H-10 

Name, and its import, of Ilarwinton. ■ • ■ 21-22 

Relative priority of Harwinton, . - - • 22-23 

Captain ^resseugcr, ..... '23-2G 

Other early settlers, .... - 26-30 

Whence they came, .--■•• 30-3- 

Primordials, ...--• 3*_-.>.> 

Result^, ....•■• n;i-:5.-. 

Agriculturists, . • - ... ^o-.u 

Agricultural advantages, . . . ■ • 37-39 

School provisions, . - • • - .i9— 1.) 

Building Church edifice, - - - ■ ■ "''-''"• 

OIIAriKR III. TIIK lunrilFT-;. 

Formation of Church — First preacher, • ^i'i-^i' 

Pastors, incidents and characters of, - 57-8(1 

Deacons, - • • ■ " 8G-S7 

CHAPTER IV. DIVINK WORDS XSD ST.KTl'TKS TAKK HOI.P. 

Religious revivals, - • - • " 8i-9.> 

An'KXDIX. XOTKS A. TO II. 

New England Towns seminaries of Liberty, • • 9r,-9< 

Population of Harwinton, - • • •'' 

A „„.,-;, -.n Tn.i;:,n=—PurH.a«'> of land from Indians. ■ '.is^jol 



8 

Page. 

Coniipcticut ('blue') laws, .... 101-102 

Early 'border ruffians,' ..... 102-10?. 

Extent of the 'land claim' set up by Hartford and Windsor, 103-104 

Original Proprietors of Harwinton, • - • 1 04 

Act incorporating Harwinton, .... 104-105 

Litchfield County formed, .... 105 

The pioneer settler, • - • • . 100 

'Modern improvements,' • - • • lOG 

The Messenger family, ..... 106-107 

Statistics of early immigrants, .... 107-109 

Titles as formerly prized, ..... 110-112 

Boundary questions, - • • • . 112 

Singing, old and new style of, .... 112-113 

Wars and soldiers, ..... 113-115 

Oldest Houses, - • • • - 116 

First Town Meeting, - • - ■ - 116-117 

Town and State officers, .... 117-123 

•One Hundred Years Ago,' .... 123-124 

Tunxis and other Indian tribes, - • - 124-125 

AVild Animals, - - ■ - - - 126-127 

Minerals, '■ ex^yloitations^ of, and explorations for, in Harwinton, 127-131 

Vital statistics and viability, .... 131-132 

Traders and trading, ..... 132-133 

Manufacturers, ...... 133-134 

Education — College graduates, .... 134—135 

Professional men, ..... 135-136 

' Raising the meeting house,' .... 135 

' Dignifying the seats,' .... 137-138 

PcNVS, - - • • • • • 138-139 

'Sabbath-day houses,' .... 139-140 

Preachers, who in Harwinton were not pastors, - - 140-141 

First pastor's grave, .... - 141-142 

Half-way Covenant, ..... 142-144 

Separatists, ...... 144-146 

Church records, ...... 146-148 

First settlers' last-surviving children, - - - 148 

SUPPLEMENTARY. 

(,'atliii Family in Massachusetts, • • - 149 

IXPEX OF NAMES. - - 149-152 



HISTORY OF IIAPaVIXTOX. 



CHAPTER I 

INTRODUCTORY. 



An instinct of nature prompts in every man a reverent regard 
for liis parentage. A command from the Author of nature, 
''Honor thy fother and thy mother," sliows that to heed that 
prom})ting is our duty. This duty we may best perform when 
we most fully appreciate the character and the condition of 
our parents, by obtaining an accurate knowledge of their times; 
and this knowledge we the more largely obtain while, as we 
keep in view that portion of the past which is compassed by 
our personal recollections, we also bring into view that incom- 
parably greater portion of it which is assured to us by writ- 
ten records alone. Not from the Hebrews only was sought 
such an intelligent compliance with natural prompting, such 
an enlarged obedience to Divine command, when, after their 
legislator had bid that poojile: "Kemembcr the days of old," 
he with equal authority bade them: "Consider the years of 
many generations." The spirit of such precepts cogently applies 
to ourselves. From our position near where were blended our 
Town's first and second centuries. Affection is seen now looking 
forward with alternate hope and fear towards those who will be 
here in time coming, and now looking backward with grateful 
veneration to those who were here in times gone ; and Keason 
with Religion is heard approving and sanctioning the design of 
rendering a meet tribute to our predecessors' memory. As their 
era and their circumstances arc recalled; iu sketching their inci- 
2 



10 

dents correctly, tlieir character and themselves may rightly be 
portrayed. 

Some persons will not admit that just a Town, especially a 
smaller Town, can possess any significance worth commemo- 
rating. Yet to deny this would betray sheer superficialness. 
One might as well deny that there exists any significance in 
what even distinguishes a nation ; for what distinction pertains 
to at least this nation more notably than that which belongs to 
New England? and what distinction more remarkable has New 
England than her origin, at Plymouth, Salem, Wethersfield, 
New Haven, from Towns ? From the beginning planted in 
Towns and with them, they ever have been to her as they ever 
wall be her seed, her stem, her branches with fair flowers and 
crowning fruit.* Few Towns indeed are prominently figured 
on charts outlining the boundaries of a continent or of an em- 
pire, just as few springs and rivulets or none are denoted on 
maps exhibiting the course and chief tributaries of the Missis- 
sippi; but, apart from those unmarked confluents which first 
gave and still continue to give their liquid quotas to the vast 
flood of that mighty stream, where would the Mississippi be? 
The American cities now largest were a while since villages 
merely ; and from what were less than hamlets rose the old world's 
London and Eome. Regarding places as correlated with their 
occupants, the names which grace the annals of America's most 
historic period, names in their illustrious nationality second to 
none, a Trumbull, an Adams, a Washington, attach to Lebanon 
and Quincy villages, with Vernon a villa-farm. The public is 
nowhere when individuals all are gone. The integral parts of 
families are the integrating parts of nations. A history divorced 
from biography is a nullity. Gibbon's itself, were there with- 
drawn from it the personages it presents, would for another 
reason deserve the title which it bears : The Decline and Fall. 
Every nation, in respect of that which imparts to it true dignity, 
is in its greatest things what it is in its least things. Bodies 
politic as really as bodies natural have members, and the one 
sort not less than the other live and thrive, in the only way an 
organism can, by "the effectual working in the measure of 
*See, in Appendix, Note A. 



11 

every part;" and always is "the wliole body fitly joined to- 
gether and compacted by that which every joint supplieth." 
The affcrrcffate common- weal will be the better understood and 
the more prized by him who best understands and most prizes 
the several contributive portions. Our Towns us well the small 
as the great, each in its own measure, are all directly constit- 
uent of our State ; and so the honor of the State is consulted 
for and her welfare throughout is promoted, by whatever adorns 
the present or illustrates the past of her smallest incorporated 
divisions. In this faith are we to estimate Ilarwinton — which 
one may liken to " Bethlehem-Ephratah," in the respect of be- 
ing " little among the thousands of Judah, yet" " not the least 
among the princes of Juda."''*' 



CHAPTER II. 
Y O XJI^ FATHERS. t 

THEIR WAY PREPARED FOR THEM. 

At this outset of the sketch proposed, God's Providence is 
recognized as having assigned other times to other men, and, 
meanwhile, determined our epoch, established our bounds of 
habitation, and in every way supervised kindly all these our 
humbler affairs. It is interesting to notice the broad sweep which 
that Providence takes in its course ; how, in even apparent intermis- 
sions of its work, it is never the more working vigorously ; and 
to trace out those steps by which, when it even was seemingly 
at halt, it still was in grandeur marching on. Such interest will 

♦See, in Appendix, Note B. 

f Not made by ago naught, but enhanced by ago into a more i>reoiou9 gem, ia 
that scripture which " camo the word of the LORU unto Zechariah ;" each phraso 
of it, as if prearranged with such intent, expressing themes which the proposed 
narration requires : its natural intjuiry — " Your fjitliers, where arc they?" its plain- 
tive elegj- — "And the prophets, do they live forever?" ita energetic eulogium — 
" But my wortls, and my statutes which I commiindod my servants the prophets, 
did they not tJiko liold of your futliers?" — On that passage, Zech. 1 : 5, G, wero 
based the Couicuuial DiscourHett herein (, in tlie Preface,) ruforred to. 



12 

be quickened by the perception we shall gain, that certain things 
which, viewed aside from that Agency, were quite aloof from 
ourselves, have in fact had, by that Agency employing them, 
a near connection with our immediate concerns. 

REMOTER EVENTS PREPARATIVE. 

The earliest historians of the eastern continent had no knowl- 
edge of this western one. It long was untenanted by man. 
Peoples renowned through centuries are there, while not even 
wild men arc here. Another cycle of ages come and gone, and 
then men indeed are here of whom those, dwelling in the old 
seats of these, retain no memory. Through all this procession 
and recession of years, the races which we denominate civilized 
were held back from our hemisphere. Practically, it was to 
them then as if it had not been made, or as if, like a thing marred 
in the making, it had been rejected by its Maker. At length, 
certain Iceland wanderers at sea come hitherward and — wonder- 
ful to them — behold what we now style a Massachusetts coast ; 
they do not however remain and — wonderful to us — their dis- 
covery, after they have returned to their drear homes, is fated 
to go for ages into oblivion. That discovery was in A. D. 
1000-1, and towards the end of half another millenium Colum- 
bus, starting for Cathay* but reaching Guanahani,f makes, by 
a blunder which has sublimity in it, a re-discovery. Once 
more are European feet on Transatlantic soil. Spaniards 
are the first European colonizers of North America. Its 
south part is their location. Cabot, emulating Columbus' career, 

*That ' wonderful' land in the East, or India, of which he was in quest, and 
about whicla Marco Polo had excited many others' imaginations, was China — the 
Cathay of which old writers speak. "Before the invasion of Zingis, China was 
divided into two empires or dynasties of the North and South." "In Marco Polo, 
and the Oriental geographers, the names of Cathay and Mangi distinguish the 
northern and southern empires, which, from A. D. 1234 to 1279, were those of the 
great khan, and of the Chinese." — Gibbon, Chap. LXIV. 

As Khataiis a Persian, so Kitai appears to be a Russian, name of China. " Kiiai 
Gorod, or Chinese City,"_ sc. Cathay Court, is the only part of Moscow, in Rus- 
sia^ which escaped destruction in the memorable conflagration of that city, in 1812. 

f Called, by Columbus, San Salvador (, St. Savior); called now, on maps, Cat 
Island. 



13 

and, soon after him, arrivinj^ more northerly at the American 
continent, accomplishes again a re-discovery. Fifty years ]iass. 
English colonists have come. They, also, are southward. They 
are for trade. They are transient. A generation from their 
date is completed; and now other colonists from England are on 
their way hither. Persecution has driven them out. These, 
mainly, are for religion. These, too, have chosen a locality 
where shine warmer suns ; but the perverseness of their pilot — 
as some then thought it was ; the favor of their God — as we now 
know it to have been ; brought them to found and to maintain 
their settlement " ai Aew Plimouth in New Enrjland.^^ 

NEARER EVENTS PREPARATORY. 

Fourteen years after the Pilgrims from England had foun- 
ded Plymouth, eight years after the Planters from England had 
founded Salem, and thus Massachusetts on the seaboard had be- 
gun, English emigrants, who had been tarrying in that Colony 
for a time, have founded "Wethersfield, to which the next year 
are added Hartford and Windsor; and so Connecticut by the 
riverside begins. One series of fifty years following is signal- 
ized by the new Colony finishing the settlement of its eastern 
extremity; a second by its beginning the settlement of this 
western one. The termination of a hundred years to our State 
synchronize with the commencement of a hundred years to our 
Town ; but through a longer period than the first century of the 
Town the influence has been felt of certain events which oc- 
curred in the middle part of the State's first centu^}^ This 
specialty in Connecticut's relation to ITarwinton will suflicii-ntly 
appear from a brief outline of the condition of our State, during 
the most turbulent time in her history. 

Connecticut, like the other States of New England, but unlike 
most States known, had her origin in an ascertained method 
and known time. She did not, on her entrance into being, find 
herself possessing a territory which became hers no man could 
tell how. She did not inherit her soil. She did not steal it. 
Though it had been nominally given to her by authorities in 
ICngland, yet she also came actually into possession of it in the 
unsurroptitiuus way of open purcha.se from inhabitants whom she 
regarded as its j)roprietors by a previous occupancy. She gave 



14 

for it to them a price which, small next to nothing as that price 
may to others have seemed, was all which the sellers required 
for it and which they accounted an equivalent value.* This 
correct general statement of the matter is qualified, or rather is 
verified, by a single important exception ; for, if the land of 
the Pequods within her boundaries was obtained in war, the 
title to even that part of her domain was acquired by at least as 
good a right as a miUtary conquest ever gave. So far forth this 
Colony had done as well, then, as her sister Colonies had done. 
The equality extended farther. Upon Connecticut, as upon Mas- 
sachusetts, there had been laid a necessity of making the haz- 
ardous experiment, to unite two original Colonial establishments 
into one; and here, as well as there, the great difficulty and 
danger had been surmounted and the delicate adjustment effected 
with so little trouble as may well excite surprise. This Colony, 
not less happily than that, had struck out a free constitution 
and set up a decided though mild administration of laws which 
approved themselves in the main wise and good.f The former, 
indeed, in attacking and subduing the red men, who prowled 
around her young townships and in the midst of them, had 
nearly as much excelled the latter as the number and hostility 
of these savages was here proportionably greater than there. 
In a word, thi'ough all the obstructions, privations, hardships, 
toils, incident to founding new States on wild nature made worse 
by wilder men, our Colony, as fully as any one of the sister- 
hood, had not only taken a fair start, but made, on the whole, 
steady advances, upon the road conducting to a permanent solid 
prosperity. Just now, as to all the nascent States of New Eng- 
land, a cloud rolls up over the sky, their prosperous career is 
as ignobly as undeservedly interrupted, and that, for which they 
now for half a century have made efforts so strenuous and sac- 
rifices at so high a cost, is brought into imminent peril. Expla- 
nation of this reverse behooves to be given. 

The guiding spirits who led forth and gave prominent char- 
acter to these Colonies had ever been surpassed by few men in 
such qualities as have sterling worth ; yet did neither their ob- 

*See, in Appendix, Note C. 
fSee, in Appendix, Note D. 



15 

ject nor their success in obtaining it receive an nnqnalified 
approbation from the many persons whom they had li-ft in their 
fatlicrhiiul. it was true, rather, that *thc people raged and 
tlieir rulers took counsel together against' them. Especially 
that sort of men in England who liad forced ujion their coun- 
trymen, better than themselves, the necessity of planting these 
Colonies, in effect had wickedly harried them into expatriation, 
looked upon the prosperity of the Colonies with unfriendliness, 
and upon that of the colonists with envy. Among the colonists, 
too, as — since they were human — was to have been expected, 
there were some "false brethren unawares brought in who came 
in privily to spy out our liberty," and who were anon disclosed 
in their true aspect of traitors and enemies. Mingled in among 
the good, like " Satan" among " the sons of God," some bad 
persons came at the beginning; as, for instance, John Billington 
in the May-Flower's first company, who, getting ''in due time" 
hanged for murder * received upon himself that recompense of 
his error which was meet'. Others survived and perpetuated 
their kind, who too much merited a punishment which they 
escaped. Around this early nucleus there of course, as the col- 
onists in general increased, gathered yet other " sons of Belial."* 
Those who, as by the working in them of some abnormal 
instinct, were precociously inclined to evil ; those who, for any 
rea.«?on or for no reason, came to be displeased with their betters, 
disliking the character, position, principles, objects, or methods 
and measures of these ; whoever was arraigned before the au- 
thorities and, for his misdemeanors, cither was punished, or felt 
that he deserved it and feared that he might be ; men soured by 
disappointment attending their overweening expectations; men 
irritated by the circumvention and defeat of their schemes of 
villany ; men of desperate fortune and grovelling ambition ; 
all these, acting here as their clan always acts elsewhere, natu- 
rally endeavored, what they earnestly desired, to do to the rest 
an injury. As a Latin writer long ago said : " The wrong-doer 
hates him whom he has injured ;"t and Hebrew ones, more 
anciently: "The wicked bend their bow, they make ready 

•.Sec, in Apjx-ndix, Not© E. 

jProprium humani ingenii at, odisM quern Ueseria. — Tacitcs. 



16 

their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the 
upright in heart;" "these arc the men that devise mischief." 
A corypheus of these turbulent agitators was, notoriously, one 
Edward Randolph* who, on malign errands ever in motion, 
crossing the Atlantic one cannot well say how many times, now 
flitting to and fro in the Colonies, now rambling up and down in 
their fatherland, ubiquitously exerting himself for mischief 
with an energy worthy of some noblest cause, effected, at last, 
the evil purpose which throughout he had kept steadily before 
him, to wit, subverting the freedom of New England. Moved 
by the calumnies and misrepresentations brought to his court 
mainly by Randolph, the bigot monarch, James II., who indeed 
was predisposed towards the measure, appoints, in 1687, Sir 
Edmund Andross to be President and Captain-general over New 
England, its several Colonies consolidated into one royal Prov- 
ince, to whose government New York and New Jersey also are 
soon after required to bow. This minion, issuing to Connecti- 
cut the same order which he sends to her sister Colonies, enjoins 
her to put her privileges into his hands and lay her franchises 
at his feet. Of course such a mandate was not welcomed by the 
Colonies, nor by any was it readily obeyed. Each, so far as ex- 
pedients were at hand or daring found, resisted it. To the people 
of Connecticut this revulsion of prospects and reversion of hopes 
came not wholly unawares, but rather from a blow which had 
been anticipated ; and, in the proceedings to which a foresight 
of evil impending led their rulers, there was in particular one 
act done, — at the time it, no doubt, was accounted wise, — which, 
fifty years afterwards, had results not expected convulsing the 
whole Colony for a season, and, following those, remoter influ- 
ences that, in two subdivisions of its territory combined into one 
to make Harwinton, are, as before said, working still. 

The act thus specified, passed by the Colonial Legislature, 26 
Jan., 1686, was in the words following : " This Court grants to 
the plantations of Hartford and Windsor those lands on the 
north of Woodbury and Mattatuck, and on the west of Farm- 

*And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every 
one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto hiiu ; and he became a cap- 
tain over them. — 1 Sam. 22:2. 



17 

infrtoji and Simsbury, to tlic Massachusetts line nortli ; to run 
west to Ilousatonick, or Stratford river; j)rovided it be not, or 
part of it, formerly granted to any particular person to make a 
plantition, or village."* The * Mattatuck' therein intended is 
AVaterburv,t then including riymouth.:|: Farmington, as 
therein referred to, embraced Bristol and Burlington ; Sims- 
bury then included Canton and Granby ; SuUleld then belonged 
to Massachusetts. That this measure was 'huddled throunrh'. 
or passed, as Dr. Trumbull says of it, " in a hasty manner," is 
suniciently manifest from its terms. In design more a resolve 
for the by, than an act for permanency, it was meant to 
serve merel}^ as a legislative expedient, resorted to under pres- 
sure of an emergency, with the view of preventing these 
" Western lands" of the Colony being wrested from it and 
sequestered to the English Crown, that is, in part at least, to 
himself, by Sir Edmund's magisterial or personal rapacity. § It 
simply designed " that," as Trumbull's language is, " these towns 
should hold the lands, thus granted, for the Governor and Com- 
pany, until those times of danger and trouble should be past, 
but not as their property. Tlicy had never purclia.sed, nor 
given the least valuable consideration for them, and had no deeds 
or patents of them." The Colony, therefore, after the ill-boding 
but brief control of Andross had ended, regarded these lands 
as being still in the Colony's possession, just as they were be- 
fore the Colonial Legislature had taken said action resj)ecting 
them. From such a view of the matter, however, the Towns, 

•Colony Records. 

fWatcrbury received ita present name on its incorporation, in ifay, 1686. The 
name 'Mattatiic' is now applied to the little villa^fo, partly in Ilarwiiiton and 
parti}' in Litchfield, where, on the west side of the Xaiivriitiic River, tiin-c ujiles 
south of Wolcottville, is Iho 'Litchfield Station' of the Nuiipatuc Railroad. 

JTho oastem towns on I/ong Island were, at that jwriod, in Connecticut's juris- 
diction. ' Mattittick' parish incluilea tho |)resent town of Rivcrheod, L. I., and 
'Mattaluc' is in tlie town of Southold, L. I., — as see I'riiuc's, or see Thompson's 
History of Lonj? Inland. 

gA writer says, with \chh courtesy than truth, of Sir Kdmund: "Tliis .\ndr0.s3 
was a modern Xero, and [he] employed all ids pf)wer8 to des|X)il the Colonies and 
to enrich himself" — Rev. Grant Powers, Centennial .\ddrcss at Goshen, Ct., 1838. 
Others speak of iiim with much the same degree of re8])0ct 

3 



IS 

Hartford and Windsor, very naturally dissented. They clung 
to the resolve of the Legislature as tenaciously, as they would 
have done, had that Body in good faith designed it to be a con- 
veyance transferring the fee to them and giving to them the 
sole and indefeasible ownership. It certainly was such a con- 
veyance, if its words have meaning. The term 'grants' had 
then for them, as it has now to others, a peculiar charm. They 
were thus, and perhaps otherwise, also, inclined to make the most 
of it. They did make of it all which they could, and held the 
Legislature to its resolve as to a bond. When the lands, a genera- 
tion after, by coming into request became valuable, then, car- 
rying out their claim into action, — Trumbull says, "in contra- 
vention of the most express laws of the Colony, — they pro- 
ceeded to locate and vend the lands." This proceeding of the 
Hartford and Windsor claimants brought them, in 1722, 
as it could not fail of doing, into a direct conflict with the 
Colonial authorities. Violent infractions were made of the pub- 
lic peace. Some of the trespassers, those claimants or certain 
agents they had employed, are arrested, tried, convicted, and, in 
execution of judgment, "committed to the common prison in 
Hartford." Their upholders oppose the Government by force of 
arms. The sheritT is specially "authorized to call out the 
whole militia of the county to his assistance," and " the officers 
and privates" are required, under a special " penalty," to aid 
him. Such, however, was the popular feeling then, even in 
'steady' Connecticut, that, " notwithstanding this precautionary 
act of the Assembly, there was a riot at Hartford, the common 
goal was broken oj)en, and the delinquents were set at liberty, 
even while the Assembly were in session." Our older State his- 
torian, in noticing this matter, added: "These were indeed 
evil times. Men, with an uncommon obstinacy, resisted the 
laws, and trampled on the authority of the Legislature." " This 
controversy had already occasioned a general ferment and great 
animosities among the people, and there was danger that it might 
be attended with still more serious consequences. The Hart- 
ford and Windsor claimants found it to be a difficult business to 
contend with the Governor and Company." One sees not why 
this last sentence, with neither a qualifying nor a connective 



19 

particle, ia made thus immorliately to follow the next preceding 
one; for, in keepinc;; with what has been previously cit^d, the 
fact in the sequel ajipeared, that *' the Governor and Com])any" 
as clearly "found it to be a difhcult business to contend with" 
"the Hartford and Windsor claimants," backed up by the pur- 
chasers under them, who in their turn were supplemented by 
agents and attornies and various other partisans. With those 
claimants by such helps sustained, treats a duly appointed Com- 
mittee of the ' Assembly' ; seeking in vain, by such concilatory 
" propositions as [it seemed to the ' Assembly'] should be made 
to them," " that the difBculties subsisting might be quieted." 
Their persistence in continuing to claim that 'grants,' volunta- 
rily made by the ' Assembly' to themselves or to their prede- 
cessors in law, ought to be made good, the Committee are unable 
to overcome. " An affair of great labor and difiiculty" these 
found it, not so much, probably, "to examine the claims," as 
" to obtain such concessions and propositions as they judged rea- 
sonable, or as the Assembly would accept." IIow could the 
* Assembly' expect work of this sort to be ea.«y, while that res- 
olution of the 'Assembly' making the 'grants' which gave rise 
to and supported 'the claims' stood unrepealed, pledging the 
faith of the Colony, that the gift it purported to bestow should 
be given ? " After laboring in the business nearly two years, 
[said Committee] made their report," the tenor of which may be 
gathered from what preceded and succeeded the making it. For 
the claimants, persistence obtained a compromise. To the de- 
murrers, wisdom acquired in the contest suggested, that there 
lay some value before unlearned in the trite maxim, ' lictter 
lose half than the whole ;' and so, acting in literal conn)rmity 
to that doctrine, "the Legislature, wishing to preserve the peace 
of the Colony, and to settle the lands in controversy as expedi- 
tiouslv as might be, on the report of their Committt^e, Resolved 
[,26 May, 1726], That the lands in controversy should be divided 
between tlie Colony and the towns of Hartford and Windsor; 
that the Colony should iiave the western, and Hartfuxl and 
Windsor the eastern divi.sion;" and "the Governor and Com- 
pany, 22 Mav, 1729, gave a patent of one half of said lands to 
them." The territory of Litehlicld, the laying out and sale of 



20 

wbich liad begun the trouble, was excepted from this partition.* 
The share, therefore, which the Towns of Hartford and Windsor 
received of the territory in dispute was so much of what now is 
Litchfield county as lies east of Litchfield, Goshen, and Norfolk, 
together with Hartland which now is, as originally all said ter- 
ritory was, in Hartford county.f Of this share one moiety was 
given to Hartford, the other to Windsor; occasioning, 11 Feb., 
1731-2, a second partition. Three townships in the eastern and 
north part of the share having been made from Hartford's lot, 
and three townships in the western and north part of the share 
from Windsor's lot, a remainder of the share was left, all of it, 
excepting Kent (Warren included) situated west of Litchfield, 
being situated north and east of Litchfield and northwest of 
Farmington. Dividing this remainder, of what was owned jointly 
by Hartford and Windsor, adequate in size for a seventh town- 
ship, there was made an eastern portion, assigned to Hartford, 
and a western one, assigned to Windsor ; that is, a half town- 
ship belonging to Hartford, and a half township belonging to 
Windsor; Hartford's again the eastern, Windsor's again the 
western portion. Two other partitions are made, one, 7 April, 
1732, at Windsor, whereby the Windsor people distribute their 
three townships and their half township:}: among themselves; 
and one, 5 April, 1732, (meetings continued by adjournment till) 
27 September 1732, at Hartford, whereby the Hartford people 
distribute their three townships and their half township:}: 
among themselves. The several companies to which the differ- 
ent parcels of land, made out of Windsor people's moiety, had 
been allotted, were respectively incorporated, 11 May, 1732 ; 
and it was then enacted also, that their half township, " contain- 
ing 9,560 acres, should be forever called Harwinton." (Better 
to bestow titles on unfinished places, than on unfurnished men.) 
The several companies to which had been allotted the several 
parcels of land, made out of Hartford people's moiety, received 
incorporation respectively, — May, 1733; and it also was then 



*See, in AppendLx, (towards the end of) Note C. 
f See, in Appendix, Notes F., and I. 
JSee, in Appendix, Note G. 



21 

enacted that their lialf township, "containing, hy estimation,* 
8,590 acres," "should forever hereafter, in conjunction with the 
other })art, be called Harwinton." — Thus terminated the only 
intestine altercation which has ever disturbed, by popular resort 
to j)hysical violence, Connecticut's habitual serenity. Yet this 
contest, as well as other incidents, involved a decidedly Con- 
necticut character, since it exhibited as working at home, though 
in confessedly an exceptionable manner, that ingenuity for 
which her people have abroad been proverbial. In that meas- 
ure which her citizens, elevated to oflice, had devised for pre- 
venting a transfer of her territory to others, her citizens, not 
raised to authority, found the means of procuring a transfer of 
that territory to themselves. What royal messengers, relying 
on power which they well knew by experience how to wield, 
could not have made her give up, her own plebeian republicans, 
who as yet were but leaniing their strength, induced her in wil- 
lingness to bestow. The rebellion, waged as vigorously as its 
occasion was singular, ended singularly — in this amicable work 
of dividing, apportioning, and naming lands. The reception of 
these distributed lands was probably as pleasant to the receivers, 
as the elfort, needful to understand so many divisions and sub- 
divisions, may have proved tedious to us. From this recital, 
which the writer has tried to make explicit, of transactions nec- 
essarily complicate both in themselves and in the accountsf of 
them, this much at least is clear; that the two half townships, 
apparent in the unit of Harwinton territory, did not arise cas- 
ually, as contingencies of many dividings; that they were not 
brought together after such dividings, as odds and ends which 
had before been unconnected; that they occurred from the cir- 
cumstance that certain joint owners of a tract of land separated 
it for size' .sake into an uneven number of portions; that the 
western, or first designated half of one certain portion, was 
the moiety of Windsor-loivn ; that the eastern, or second desig- 
nated half of the same portion, was the moiety of llarljord- 

*D7 a sur\-ey made, 1133, tho whole township wiis 18,150 acres. Colonj Records. 

fSoo, as ro^^nls all the townships into which " tho Wcstom lands" within tho 
prosont liniiti of Conaacticut woro luaio, Trumbull's Hidtory of Counoclicut, II. 
95— lU. 



22 

town ; and that the name Har-win-ton^ given in the two fold way 
and at the two times above specified, carries in it a designed ref- 
erence* to that previous double proprietorship here, and so 
imports HARtford-TOwN-WiNdsor-TOwN." 

Such, set forth briefly, are some of the preparations variously 
made for our Town. Along with these, and partly by means of 
them, were selected and combined certain elements of the moral 
atmosphere in which we here breathe and live. 

Compared historically with the other Towns comprised in our 
county, this holds a satisfactory position. Tne tract of land, 
specified in the before-mentioned resolve of the Colonial Legis- 
lature, and repeated divisions of which were by subsequent acts 
of that Body appointed and ratified, is about half of that which 
the county, Litchfield, contains. After said tract had by those 
partitions been laid off into townships of due size; "as the pur- 
chasers were none but the inhabitants of Connecticut, it was 
many years before they could all be sold and settled."f The 
first of them settled was Harwinton. — In the courtty are only 
four Towns in which settlement was earlier made, namely, 
Wpodbury, settled in 1673, then in Fairfield county ; New Mil- 

*Names, constructed ia a similar maiiner, were applied to other places in West- 
ern Connecticut. Farming-bur 7j, the denomination of what, become since the Town 
of Wolcott, was once a ' Society' made in part from (the original territory of) 
Farmingion, and in part from 'Northbury (then a ' Society' in Waterfewr?/, now the 
Town of Plymouth); was equivalent to FARMiNGton (-parish)- WaterBURY (-pa- 
rish). Win-sted, designating now a thriving Village, was thus denominated to 
remind one, that it was a district partly of TFmchester and partly of Barkhamp- 
stead- as if to say Wi>Jcho3ter (-place)-BarkhampsTEaD (-place). Win-ton-hury, 
formerly a 'Society,' latterly the Town of Bloomfield, received that appellation to 
denote its territory as lying respectively in TFtndsor and Sims&wrj/ Town?, ; so inti- 
mating WiNdsor-towN (-parish)-SimsBURY-TOwN (-parish). Torriag-ford, a ' So- 
cietj',' designates its origin from the Towns of ToRRiXGton and New-lIartFORD : 
JIad-lyme, a 'Society,' designates its origin from the Towns of (East) ilAodam and 
Lyme. 

The name given to another locality, LTart-land, cannot be justly held primarily 
responsible for awakening, as in poetic minds it by its form and by its sound does 
awaken, thoughts of scenes fair, quiet, sylvan, the haunt where harts resort; be- 
cause, implying no more than does the term set upon a fellow town, New-Hart- 
FORD, its sole intent is to suggest, in the short commercial way, a ' reference' to 
HABTford-LAND. 

f Trumbull, II. 104. 



23 

ford, sottlod in 1707, then in New Haven county; T.itr.lifield, 
settled in 1720; Salislmry, settled, a part of it, tlu'ii regarded as 
in New York, in 1720, by Dutch emigrants from that Province (, 
but settled, the most part, then regarded as in New Haven 
county, in 1739, by New England ones), llarwinton was set- 
tled in 1730. Its eastern half, or "East llarwinton," w;^ the 
earlier occupied, although its western half, or " West llarwin- 
ton," had been the earlier appropriated. That the eastern was 
earlier settled resulted from several circumstances. Ilarwinton's 
territory bordered east as well as south on that of Towns a con- 
siderable time established ; there ran through it a ' cleared road' 
which already had been used several years; and, what in those 
days was not a small matter, the " East llarwinton Proprietors" 
were nearer than were the "West llarwinton" ones to their 
Propriety. The other Towns in the county were settled later, 
those above-named excepted, than this. — There are, in the county, 
but three Towns which earlier received incorporation, namely, 
Woodbury, incorporated in 1674, tJicn in the county of Eairlleld ; 
New Milford, incorporated in 1713, ilien in the county of New 
Haven; Litchfield, incorporated in 1721. llarwinton thus, 
Litchfield excepted, the oldest within the "Western lands," was 
incor|X)rated in October, 1737.* The other Towns in the county, 
those above-named excepted, were later in this respect. Most 
of the Towns, now in Litchfield county, were for some years in 
Hartford county.f 

DATES OF SOME OF THK IMMIGKANTS GIVEX. 

The pioneer settler in this township was Daniel Messenger. 
He fixed his abode here in January 1730.i In him we reeo<r- 
nize the founder of the Town. As such, let him be held in 
memory. Whether we think of him as now keeping more 
closely to his tarrj'ing-place, which must at the first have been 
80 lonely, though "near the road between Eitchfield and Far- 
mington;" or, as now 'crossing "the line' between the Hart- 
ford and Windsor Proprieties;" he. for lx>th "Ejist llarwinton" 

♦See, in Appendix, Note H. 
fSoo, in Appendix, Xoto I. 
JSeo, in Apj>eudix, Note J. 



24 

and " West Harwinton" respectively, and so for us all was 'the 
pathfinder.' Viewed in relation with merely such effects, con- 
sequent on his coming to Harwinton, as here, while he lived, he 
saw accomplished ; much more, viewed in relation with those 
results, thence originating, which here, since his death, have 
been ^unfolded; he appears, even aside from any of his own 
purposes in the matter, to have executed a mission from God 
for the good of all other persons who should dwell here ; so 
that without intent to utter it punningly — far less, profanel}^ — 
one might say that, to each of such persons. Providence in effect 
affirmed of him (what was said of one "greater than he"): 
" This is he of whom it is written. Behold I send my messenger 
before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." As 
to our ' pathfinder,' literally " before" him, respecting time and 
otherwise, was that " wa}'" prepared which has incidentally 
been twice mentioned. In the latter mention of it were quoted 
the words of a record which, one other excepted, is the oldest 
that Harwinton possesses.* This road which our annals present 
thus early was, previously to Capt. Messenger's taking his resi- 
dence in the township, part of the route traversed and incip- 
iently ' made' by such persons as, at Farmington, Hartford, and 
other places, had been interested in facilitating access and acces- 
sions to the plantation by them set forward at Bantam, f now 

*9 Jan., 1731-2. "Ebenezer Hopkins, of Waterbury," buys land of (his uncle) 
"Samuel Sedgwick, of Hartford." 10 Jan., 1732-3. Ebenezer Hopkins, of "the 
"Western lands near the road between Litchfield -and Farmington," sells land to 
" my father Daniel Messenger, living at the same place." — " East Harwinton" Rec- 
ords. (22 Feb., 1732-3. "Anthony Hoskins, Jr., of Windsor," etc., is the ear- 
liest date noticed in the " "West Harwinton" Records.) 

f The inquiry may be allowed : How came Bantam to designate Litchfield ? J. 
Hammond Trumbull, Esq., who has bestowed much attention on the primitive 
local names in Connecticut, thinks that some person who anciently lived in Litch- 
field bore that appellation. Books give Bantam as the American Indians' name of 
that place. In books Bantam also appears as, apparently, the Asiatic Indians' 
name of a chief comniercial Town in Java, E. L Dutchmen preceded the English 
alike in Connecticut and in Java. Swinton, in his Rambles Among Words, repre- 
sents bantam (, sc. the fowl so called,) as being of Malay (, que. Bantam, Java ?) 
origin. All this may be casual coincidence. In Sketches and Chronicles of Litch- 
field, Connecticut, 1850, a work of the late Payne Kcnyon Kilbourne, Esq., a cor- 
respondent is quoted as affirming, " that the Java [Town] Bantam was in exist- 



Litchfield. Chiefly by this did the people of Hartford and the 
other easterly towns gain entrance into a territory which, form- 
ing at present a large part of the largest county in Connecticut, 
and supplied now with agricultural product^', manufactures, vil- 
lages, and well-instructed inhabitants, was, at that period, a wil- 
derness known as " the Western lands."* The said road, by 
Capt. Messenger and other "East Ilarwinton Proprietors" put 
into fit condition, Dec. 1732, continued to be a main thorough- 
fare, until long after the establishment of stage-coach accomoda- 
tions ; so that, by means of the travellers who used it, Ilarwinton 
had, at that day and for years afterward, a more extensive 
publicity than it has now. It was over this road that, — with 
his suite including Major General the Marquis dc La Fayette, 
General Knox, and several other American officers of distinc- 
tion, — passed our nation's ' Pathfinder,' General Wa.shington.f 
.\fter his party had taken here refreshments, in presenting 
which the choicest of our young maidens honored themselves as 
well as their fathers' and their Town's welcome guests,* the 
cavalcade went onward; and when, in its progress, it moved 



once and had a king eighteen years before tiie huidiiig of the Pilgrims," " was 
ofcupiod by the Dutch in the sixteentii centurj-, and was a place of much conse- 
quence;" and that " in the Portuguese writings of Jono de Barras [Joao dc Bar- 
ros], (Lisbon, 1777,) the place is called " Bintam or Bantiim." The Portuguese 
have no w in their language, and the nearest c(|uivalent, v, id omploye<l somewhat 
interchangeably with b. The form Bintam^ as thus given, suggests that the Dutch 
name of either locality may have been, what befits so well the Connecticut one. 
Wind'aiii, i. o. Wind-Ham, wind-homo (, a breezy town). Windhai/K the designa- 
tion of an English place, whence have come the "Windhams of Connecticut, Ver- 
mont, etc., is, however, an abbreviation for Wimund-ham (Wimund's home). 

*.Seo, on the next preceding page, Xote {*). 

fGonend Wjushingtou wa.^, on the occasion referred to, returning to bis llcad- 
Quartors, then at West Point, N. Y., from the Conference which, 21 Sept., 1780, 
himself and suite had held, at Hartford, with the Count do Rochaml>oaii, Admiral 
Ternay, and other distinguished French commanders, whose forces were then coop- 
erating with the American army. — Soo HoUister's History of Connecticut, II., 387. 

JThe repa.«t was taken, aged people, my informants in 1837, said, in tho house 
llion occupied by a Mr. Bronson, in which, 1860, is tho oflBce of Hon. Abijah Cat- 
lin. That building, however, was tho first taveni-house kept in Harwinton. 
Whether it was so uso<L at the time of Washington's passing through Harwinton. 
duos not appear. One of tho fair .servitors of tho ontortaiimient givtn was Can- 
daw, daughter of George Catlin, afterwanls the wife of Lewis Catlin, Esq. 

4 



26 

gracefully up the western ascent from the valley of Lead-mine 
Brook, and thus was in full view of persons assembled at the 
Church standing then,* it presented a pageant which, sixty 
years afterwards, aged citizens vividly remembered. It is 
pleasant to add, respecting this most ancient of the human works 
which as 'modern antiquities' Harwinton is able to show, that 
the road is to-day ' in a good state of preservation,' and still, 
more travelled over than any other here, is the principal one.f 
It is not probable, that our pioneer resident lived, for any 
considerable interval, wholly alone ; but it does not appear, with 
any definiteness, how soon other persons made here their homes. 
Dr. Trumbull, giving of our first settlers only the surnames, 
says,:}; "The five first were Messenger, Hopkins, Webster, 
Phelps, and Wilson. These were on the lands before the divis- 
ion and sale of them, in 1732." The division which he refers 
to is the partition, made between the Towns of Hartford and 
Windsor, of their moiety of the "Western lands;" and the sale 
which he refers to is rather, as he had previously called it, " pro- 
visions for the sale" of said lands. In saying "before" 1732, 
he seems to have meant the year 7iext preceding that. The 
first name that Dr. Trumbull gives. Messenger, might in addi- 
tion to our pioneer himself include, as found here at the date 
assigned, two of his sons, Nehemiah and Samuel. Our records 
show, of these sons, that the latter belonged here, in January, 
1733-4 ; and the former, in October, 1735, certainly; in January, 
1733-4, probably. It may, from the circumstances of their 
father's age and position, and of their own age, both being 
then in their majority, be well inferred, that these both were 
here as soon as their fiither was ; although a Nehemiah Messen- 
ger, — more than possibly this same person, going thither after 
tarrying here, and at Cornwall, and at Sheffield, Ms., for only a 

*Our ' Center' was, at that day, scarcely a hamlet. See, in Appendix, Note K. 

fWell-made and well-kept roads are more than aids to municipal improvement. 
They exhibit and they promote a proper self-respect in all who even pass over 
them, much more in all who maintain them. They are proofs and ' prime conduct- 
ors' of civilization. As such, every town should regard them. Patriot citizens, 
" in whose heart are the ways," have reasonably a lovo for them, " and favor the 
dust thereof." 

Xll. 105. 



27 



short time,— was, somewhat after 1750, among the early mimi- 
grants of Egremont, Ms.,* the settlement of which township 
some one commenced about the same date that Capt. Messenger 
began to settle ours, 1730. The second name that Dr. Trumbull 
gives, Hopkins, may also include more than one person, since 
Ebenczcr Hopkins who, calling Capt. Messenger "my father," 
was either his step-son or, which is the more likely, his son-m- 
law, was a resident here in Jan., 1732-3 ; and Ilezekiah Hop- 
kins who, found resident here two or three years later, took a 
deed of land here, in April, 1732,— the month indicating that 
he took the deed with a cultivator s intent of putting the land 
into immediate occupancy, that he might live on it and live by 
working on it, rather than with a speculator's thought, "I have 
bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it." The 
third name that Dr. Trumbull gives, Webster, is scarcely more 
definite, in respect of the persons intended, for though Cyprian 
Webster had a deed, conveying to him land here, in November, 
1733, yet Moses Webster appears, by our documents, as residing 
here nearly as soon as said Cyprian Webster does. The fourth 
name that Dr. Trumbull gives, Phelps, similarly ambiguous in 
this regard, may apply nearlvas well to two pei-sons; for, so far 
as our records disclose, Daniel Phelps and Samuel Phelps were 
both resident here in 1736. Of the five names that Dr. Trum- 
bull gives, there appears, as having neither a double nor triple 
applicability to persons, but one, Wilson; yet John Wilson, m 
the records that we have, comes to view not earlier than in 173/ . 
Conceding, however, that Dr. Trumbull was, in this case, accu- 
rately informed,— as he surely might have been, gathering ma- 
terials for his history at the time in which one, at least, of the 
five, John Wilson, was yet surviving,-the sum of the matter 
is this. Daniel Messenger ranked apart from the rest since, be- 
yond doubt, he was established in the township in 1730, there may 
be taken as the primary inhabiUints of Harwinton. Ebcnozer Hop- 
kins, Samuel Mes.senger, Daniel Phelps, Samuel Phelps, Cyprian 
Webster, John Wilson. These, an.l Nehemiah Messenger possi- 



♦Uistory of Weatcrn Massachusetts. ik«c l.orcin, at Appendix, Note L. 



28 

bly, were on their 'claims' here, settlers, in 1731 and most proba- 
bly in the previous year.* 

In a Memorial,! bearing date 13 May, 1736, presented to the 
General Court by Nathan Davis, Daniel Messenger, and G-eorge 
Wyllys, as a Committee of " the inhabitants of Harwinton" ask- 
ing, through this their Committee, permission to levy an addition- 
al tax, in order to pay arrearages due to a gentleman who had 
preached to them, and asking, also, "authority to embody in Church 
estate, and to be incorporated as a town ;" it is stated that, at that 
time, the township ' contained one hundred souls, of whom twen- 
ty-one were heads (masters) of families.' No action, as respecting 
Church embodiment and Town incorporation, having been taken 
by the General Court, on that Memorial ; another Memorial,f da- 
ted 4 October, 1737, signed by Anthony Hoskins, Daniel Messen- 
ger and Zechariah Seymour, as Agents for " the inhabitants of 
Harwinton," in which said inhabitants, through their said Agents, 
renew their requests and gain their objects; states that "the 
place, being daily increasing," then numbered one hundred and . 
sixty-one souls, of whom 'twenty-four were heads (masters) of 
families.' There are not sufficient data for designating these 
male heads of families, with absolute certainty as to each of 
them ; but as nearly as the materials obtained seem to authorize 
a specification, the twenty-four such persons were : 

Samuel Barber, Jacob Benton (,Sen., Dea.), Daniel Bissell (, Jr.), Dan- 
iel Brown (,Esq.),J Thomas Bull, Nathan Davis (,Jr., Lt.), Daniel Gil- 
let (,'2d), Nathaniel Hatch, Amos Hinsdale, Jacob Hinsdale (,Sen., Capt.), 
Ebenezer Hopkins (, Jr., Sen.), Hezekiah Hopkins, Jonathan Hopkins (, 
Sen., Ens.), Anthony Hoskins (,Jr.), Noah Loomis (,Sen.), Israel Mer- 
riman, Daniel Messenger (,Capt.), Nehemiah Messenger, Samuel Mes- 
senger, Samuel Moodey, Daniel Phelps (, 2d, Dea.), Samuel Phelps (, 
Jr., Sen., Lt.), Cyprian Webster (, Sen., Esq.), Samuel Winchell. 

*See, in Appendix, Note M. 

■[•State Archives, " Ecclesiastical" Papers. 

|Sandisfield, Ms., "was not permanently settled until 1750.' Thomas Brown was 
the first settler, and, very soon after him, Daniel Brown and others went in from En- 
field, Conn. Daniel Brown was formerly from some town near Boston. [See here- 
in, in Appendix, Notes L. and M.] He o-\vned a very considerable part of the town- 
[ship], and was, for a number of years, the principal business man, holding the im- 
portant oflBces, and having almost the entire control of the town." — History of 
Western Massachusetts. History of the County of Berkshire, Massachusetts. 



29 

In tlie latter Memorial a statement is made that, at the time 
when it was dated, there had been fourteen children born within 
the territory, a cireumstanee which, as various others do, indi- 
cates that many of the families then here were youthful ones ; 
but more noticeable is the fact, seen by comparing together what 
both Memorials say, as to the whole population here, that, in 
the interval between the dates of these Memorials, seventeen 
months wherein only three families were added, the sum total of 
persons, instead of increasing at the same rate, or becoming, at 
most, one hundred and fifteen, had increased more than four 
times as rapidly, and so become one hundred and sixty-one. This 
fact, accounted for by the supposition that wives of the settlers and 
young children, not previously here, liad at this later period come 
in, shows that the preparations made for their comfort were now 
finished ; and is thus significant of houses built, barns set up, 
harvests gathered, stores for the winter laid in, and progrrcss 
made on every hand. 

As we find it to be with individuals in the formative stage of 
their life, so we find it to be with Towns in thcire. Other con- 
ditions being the same, such as are in a healthy state grow rajj- 
idly. In less than three years from the incorporation of Ilar- 
winton, it was, as to the number of its men, incrcjised somewhat 
more than two-fold ; and, probably, its matrons, its wives, and 
mothers and daughters, with its sons still in their youth, had be- 
come numerous in a similar ratio. Thus, in about ten years 
after its territory had received its iirst resident, not an Indian, 
that is, inclusively from 1730 to 1740 (,in the earlier part of 
which la.st-mentioned year, the first Church building within tiie 
territory was ' raised'), there were here some fifty adult males, 
nearly all of them voters. Assuming, what in regard to a few 
of the individuals is indeed doubtful, that the new .settlement 
had not, as yet, become to them a place too old, so that on this 
account they had not left it for a newer one ; their names, with 
prefixes and suffixes attached to such lu^ then or afterward b«ire 
that sort of blazonry,* w^cre : 



♦See, in Appendix, Note N. 



30 

Job Alford, (Edmund Austin,) Samuel Barber, Rev. Andrew Barthol- 
omew, Dea. Jacob Benton, Sen., Daniel Bissel, Jr., Hezekiah Bissel, Lt. 
Jonathan Brace, Esq., Daniel Brown, Esq., Isaac Bull, Thomas Bull, 
Jonathan Butler, Jr., Maj. Abijah Catlin, Sen., Esq., Sergt. Benjamin 
Catlin, Sen., Jonathan Catlin, Sen., James Cole, John Colt, Lt. Nathan 
Davis, Jr., Daniel Gillet, 2d, Nathaniel Hatch, Joseph Hayden, William 
Hayden, Josiah Higley, Amos Hinsdale, Capt. Jacob Hinsdale, Sen., 
Ebenezer Hopkins, Jr., Sen., Hezekiah Hopkins, Ens. Jonathan Hop- 
kins, Sen., Stephen Hopkins, Anthony Hoskins, Jr., Parmenor Kmg, 
Joseph Lawrence, Noah Loomis, Sen., Israel Merriman, Joseph Merri- 
man, Capt. Daniel Messenger, Nehemiah Messenger, Samuel Messenger, 
(Capt. Peletiah Mills, Sen., Esq.,) Samuel Moodey, Dea. Daniel Phelps, 
2d, Lt. Samuel Phelps, Jr., Sen., Joseph Richards, (William Robinson, )» 
Zechariah Seymour, Jr., John Stoughton, Ebenezer Tyler, Cyprian 
Webster, Sen., Esq., Moses Webster, Capt. Dea. John Wilson, Jr., 
Samuel AVinchell, Capt. Hon. George Wyllys. 

Among the women who were here in the first decennary, 
sharing alike the joys and the griefs of their husbands, and so 
increasing the one and diminishing the other, were Sarah (Catlin) 
Bartholomew, Mary (Messenger) Brace, Elizabeth (Davis) But- 
ler, Jemimah Hopkins, Lydia Messenger (,our patriarch's matro- 
nally ' first mate ' or ' second mate', whose place death soon occa- 
sioned another to fill), Mabel Messenger, and Euth Phelps. With 
other women who early were here, "these all, having obtained 
a good report," are thus duly commemorated. The whole num- 
ber of persons belonging, in 1740, to Harwinton, was probably 
some two hundred and twenty-five, or two hundred and thirty.* 

WHENCE THEY CAME. 

There will elsewhere herein be found stated in what other lo- 
calities the men whose names have just been mentioned, had 
lived before their immigration into Harwinton. f It may by in- 
specting that summary be seen that, while a certain part of the 
immigrants came from other places, the larger proportion came 
from the two Towns to whose citizens, respectively, the two half- 
townships had been appropriated. Some of the Proprietors in- 
deed disposed of their lands here to persons not relatives ; but, 
generally, the Hartford people came themselves or their sons to 

*See, in Appendix, Note B. 
•)-See, in Appendix, Note M. 



81 

their Propriety, "East Ilarwinton ;"* and the Windsor people 
eamc themselves or their sons to their Propriety, "West llar- 
winton."* This was a natural procedure for landholders who 
were not 'speculators' but 'operators.' In the same manner 
Farmington, formerly including what now arc two or three other 
Towns, was settled from Hartford ; Waterbury, then meludmg 
what now are several other Towns, was settled from Farmmg- 
ton; and Simsburv, then similarly inclusive, was settled from 
Windsor. A result from the two-fold proprietorship of this ter- 
ritory was that its eastern moiety became by occupancy, what 
it by ownership had been, the Hartford-Town portion; and ite 
western moiety became by occupancy, what it by ownership 
had been, the Windsor-Town portion; of the entirety or com- 
bined iyar//brcZ-7bi/;n- incisor- Tbzfn. From the two- fold occu- 
pancy of this territory, along with the circumstance that the 
mother towns had been long enough settled to allow variant 
habits to gain strength, a result was that, though the geographi- 
cal line between the half-townships was removed, a social line 
as real was formed which not so readily admitted removal.f 

The original population of the Town having, for the most 
part, the two-fold proximate derivation abovesaid, has, of course, 
a two-fold remote derivation. It may here be noted where one 
who would seek for them will find, to the like extent nearly, 
the English-born ancestors of your American ones. Go tlirongh 
Windsor (,at first named Dorchester), in Connecticut, and through 
Dorchester, in Massachusetts, over to Dorchester in Dorsetshire, 
and to Exeter, in Devonshire, England— there is the one greater 
portion ; then go through Uartford (, at fii-st name d Newton ), m 

^me^^^tJ.o appellations employed in the Proprietors' Books. In one instance 
is found "Windsor Side." Common parlam-e l.as. from the first, said 'the East 
Side ' and 'the West Side' of Ilarwinton. 

fThat effects outlive their caiises, is especially true of mond ones. On that i«inl 
n.ifcht IKJ found profitable more reflccUon than trtiisms ordinarily receive. Som.'- 
times things smaller than those above note<l have, unfavunibly, a posthumous 

)>eurinK- . ,. ,v .1 ., 

The evil that men do, lives atter them . 

The good is oft interretl with their bones. 

Some undersipicd 'influences of the dead' remind one thus of marks loft on the 

finger, for a week or two, from the bite of a dyinjt eel. 



32 

Connecticut, and through Cambridge (,also at first named New- 
ton), in Massachusetts, over to "Brantree" and Chelmsford, in 
Essex County, England — there is the other greater portion of 
your distant ancestry, English men on English soil. Such men, 
leaving the Towns which they in England had loved, sought to 
create even better American Towns. Be it ours to show that 
these, so far as this one is properly a specimen, have proved to 
be, at least, ec[ually good. 

THEIR BEGINNINGS. 

Special circumstances lead to special advantages, or in some 
way they affect and effect special results. Yet some things per- 
tain similarly to all men ; and, to that extent, the lot which our 
fathers with their parents had in former abodes, our fathers with 
their children would have in this. Beginning to live ; making 
arrangements the more comfortably to live ; working; building; 
contests,* with victory or defeat ; sooner or later, dying ; are 
everywhere. 

The earliest marriages registered in Harwinton are those of 
William Robinson with Elizabeth Lawrence and Edmund Austin 
with Susannah Lawrence : 

"William : Roljoson was Marreed to Elisabeth lawrence on tlie : (i : day 
of January anno dom 1736 : — 

Edmon Austin was Marreed to Susanna LaAvrence on the : (j : day of 
January Anno dom 1736 : — 

The earliest birth registered is that of Euth Phelps : 

Ruth Phelps of Harwinton the Daughter of Let Samuel Phelps & 
Ruth Phelps his Avife was Born the Sixth Day of Febuary Anno. Dom- 
ini 1733 

The earliest death registered is that of Dorcas Bissel : 

Darcis Bissell of Harwinton the Daugliter of Jabez Bissell and Dorcis 
Bissell his wife Died 29 day of April] year 1742 

The first dwelling-house here which merited such a name, 
was erected by Daniel Messenger, in 1731.f An anomaly then, 
it gave more than "shadow of good things to come" when the 
' log cabins ' should have fulfilled their destiny. 

*See, in Appendix, Note 0. 
•j-See, in Appendix, Note P. 



83 

The first T.^vn Meeting was held, 20 Dec, 1737.* 
Such are the events of a coniinunity organized. They mark 
it, as commencing to gain firmer eslablisliment and, with hi)inf- 
ness, regularity. They attest a mingled experience, of joy and 
of sorrow, the designed consequence of that succession of inci- 
dents which, under Providence, comes to every community. 
The succession, wisely superintended still, has continued, little 
varying through six score years; all the while marriages, birth.s, 
life, work, gladness, grief, health, sickness, death — yet, for the 
most part, death after accomplishing something. That which 
our predecessors here accomplished is sufficiently evident in what 
we ourselves here are, what for good we here may be, what we 
here look upon and possess and enjoy. 

THE CU ANGE lIEltE WHICH THEY MADE. 

Since "your fathers" first came hither, this region has indeed 
changed. Perceptible alteration has occurred within less than 
the quarter of a second centenary which haspa.st since was com- 
memorated here 'One Hundred Years Ago.'f The prominent 
features of the territory, it is true, have remained unvaried, 
holding their sameness, thus far, indelibly. Still unaltered are, 
especially, these parallel hills, extending through the townshi]) 
from the north to the south, with sides eastwardly and westward- 
ly rounded, which together, — lying thus along, all one triad, — 
so much exhibit their general outlines as to suggest, to a mind 
that is only moderately fanciful, ideas of a huge Titanic melon 
of some more than Titanic king. Here continue, also, as now 
being what of yore they were, the out'^prcad valley, the flowing, 
j^himmering brook, the overarching sky. But otherwise, how 
greatly the scene is transformed. Over this landscajK;, in the 
earlier days of men whom some of the eldest among you knew, 
roved at his will the Indian, in his, at best, poor tawdry attire; 
or, to relieve for a while his migratory life, he here set up, oc- 
casionally, his cheerless, uncouth wigwam.:}; As, seeking prey,§ 



♦See, in Api>on(Jix, Xoto i). 
f.Soo, in .Vppondii, Not* U. 
JSoo. in Appendix, Nolo S. 
^Soo, in Api)on(lix. Not© T 



34 

be traversed a domain wliich till so lately was his fathers' and 
his own, through the openings of the primitive forest, — whose 
tall trees with their rich and dense foliage shed a pensive sweet 
gloom all around, and amid whose solitude, the silence of it 
breaking, the woodman's axe seldom rung, — his feathered arrow 
whizzed sure to its mark ; and, perhaps, even thus far up that 
river which is our township's western boundary, his frail canoe, 
light and swift as a bird, sped strait, like his arrow, to its desti- 
nation. So, as we deem, was it then. We are not sorry that it 
was so, then. But we are glad that here are, now, preferable 
things. Since the white men succeeded to the red, all for the 
better has been the resulting transformation. What the territo- 
ry with its incidents was. Fancy is pleased with. What the ter- 
ritory with its circumstances is, Reason approves. Civilization 
has been introduced. Comfort with wealth has supervened. 
Where were only those wild growths of nature which, however 
in some sense luxuriant, are comparatively as a " desolate wil- 
derness," Culture exhibits her nobler harvests. Those who to- 
day have, on these hill-sides and in these vallies, a home in the 
midst of fruitful fields, possess what gives ever the highest worth 
to home, arts, manners, education, science, together with a ra- 
tional liberty so much the more to be prized, as it, first, is rec- 
ognized in Constitutions duly ordered and clearly expressed, and, 
then, secured to us through our intelligent obedience to salutary 
laws that, in good measure, are both enacted and administered 
upon that basis-principle, of all right civil and ecclesiastical pol- 
ity, which is in the New-Testament announced*: Govern- 

*He is the minister of God to thee FOR GOOD ; said, Rom. 13 : 4, of "the power" 
or "niler," that is, any man who, being at the post of command over other men, 
uses the place for its "ordained" purposes, fulfilling, not violating his trust. This 
principle has two applications. As to persons wider authority, hereon rests the 
charge given, Rom. 13 : 1, "be subject," i. e., obey the ruler, and hereon rests the 
necessity stated, Rom. 13: 5, "ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but 
for conscience' sake," i. e., yield not a slave's unwilling external obedience, out of 
fear of being punished by the human delegate of magistracy, but a freeman's volun- 
tary and so internal obedience, out of regard to the divine Appointer of magistracy. 
Hence is authorized an inference, — When the "subject" knows that not his good, 
but perhaps or certainly the contrarj', is the "ruler"s design, then to the " subject" 
ceases, its foundation being gone, the force of said charge and necessity. From 
that inference follows another, — The " subject" in the case last put, is at liberty to 



35 

MEXTS ARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GOVERNED. How would 
tho persons who, some hundred and thirty years since, began, 
ns well " in fear and in much trembling " as with hope, the work 
of creating in a district then desert such homes as ours, have re- 
joiced and given thanks, might they but have seen, when finished, 
the work which they commenced. Those persons were " your 
fathers". That work is done. Such transformation made in this 
territory is, to a greater degree than most of us have learned, 
the result, under God, of their designing minds and laboring 
hands. Our occasion and our opportunity for rejoicing have come 
from their success. More yours than theirs is the advantage of 
so much 'accomplished bliss'. "Other men labored, and ye are 
entered into their labors." Did we, though living in Africa or 
in Greenland, instead of in America, possess such municipal ad- 
vantages, such civil immunities, such encouragements to indus- 
trial pursuits, such educational fiicilities, as we here do to-day rich 
ly possess ; did we there have these unconnected, were the thing 
possible, with those means of moral improvement which are im- 
parted by that religion, divinely revealed, to practise which 
man's conscience is in this land free, as it never has been in other 
lands ; even there would such patrimonial possessions be to us 
incomparably " a goodly heritage." 

THKIH PfRSUITS. 

The Urst comers hither were all agriculturists.* That occu- 



Uiko any suitable time and needful measures to displace such hopelessly derelict 
"ruler, " that a faithful one may siieceed him. An inference from all tho above 
trutiis is, — In only such desperate ca.^es should this ' ripht of revuhition' he exer- 
cised. As to iKTSons in authority, one coroUarj- from the principle is, — Incorrigi- 
ble rulers stay in place by sufferance. A second i.s, — To that " Power" whose 'ser- 
vant.s' a people's 'masters' are, those 'servants' are acvountablc. From this 
arises a thini. — With that "One greater than they," these lesser "p<jwers that l>e" 
must have a reckoning. By that is suggested yet one other, — These " powers " 
should be ready to meet that reckoning from which they cannot escajH-. 

*.^x>e, in Appendix (, Note Q.), their vote, passed at tlietlrst Towni Mei'ting, invi- 
ting a " smith " to renew his residence with them. Such wan, natunilly, a very 
fn'<iuent act in the settlement of early New Knglaml Towns. Even in Towns Ixv 
gun upon the coast it was sometimes nece.ssiiry ; e. g. at Guilford, "planted " in 
1639, "Uicre was not one blacksmitli among tliem; it was with great cost [that] 
the town obtained one to live among them," 



36 

pation is one which, though it usually is physically laborious 
and always needs for insuring success as much mental work as 
it ever receives, is never injurious to any person. So far is it 
from being harmful, that man's Creator in a practically emphat- 
ic manner declared it good. " The Lord God took the man, 
and put him into the garden of Eden, to dress it, and to keep 
it." Gardening is the earliest and the highest style of agricul- 
ture. " Your fathers " followed in Harwinton that calling which 
thus the divine Father assigned to the first human father. There 
remains regarding one of ancient Israel's kings a record that "he 
loved husbandry." It does his memorj^ honor. Not merely by un- 
thinking choice of it, not mainly from necessity of doing some- 
thing, or from the need all men have of "the fruits of the field," 
are so large a proportion of men everywhere farmers. All ex- 
perience, Adam's itself, that from his day till Uzziah's, and that 
from Uzziah's time to ours, has exhibited the advantages which 
attend this employment. These advantages do not come to view 
from the fact, ultimate and primary too, that agriculture lies at 
the basis of other avocations, and is the foundation* of the 
wealth of nations ; they appear, at once, in the farmer's normal- 
ly relative position. To one who is contented with living a 
quiet life whose variations themselves are ordinarily uniform ; 
who wishes for not an hour to be available towards dissipation, 
but craves leisure to discipline his mental faculties and invigor- 
ate them, while recruiting his bodily energies through rest from 
out-of-doors labor ; to one who loves his home, and prefers there- 
fore an employment that will allow him to remain there ; to one 
who is prepared to be thankful for having the means of a steady 
and sure income, but who does not seek such a place as is likely 
to yield him a large fortune, yet is equally liable to make him 
suddenly penniless ; to such a one, the farmer's occupation offers 
nearly everything that is reasonably desirable. These prefera- 
ble circumstances attending a farmer's position, every farmer 
who has natural abilities not falling below the average, with good 
habits and right principles of action, may ordinarily secure. 
At least, if with those qualities he have industry and health, he, 

*The ' funds ', too, as the French use their (identical) term, fonds. 



37 

ill the usual course of things, will never lack the grounds of a 
good hope of being able to preserve these advantageous circum- 
stanecs. Of what other employment open to all men ean more 
be said? rather, of what other sueh can with fairness so ni udi 
be said ? 

THEIR I'LACK ADATTKI) TO THEIR PrR.SLITS. 

Such 'locations' as "your fathers" here gained were well fit- 
ted for their design. Capt. Messenger, first in age and in position 
among them, might have reminded them, as Moses, first in age 
and in position among the Ilebrews, had reminded that people : 
" The Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of 
brooks of water, of fountains, and depths that spring out of 
valleys and hills." If there are not here hroad low-lying prai- 
ries, such as on the Connecticut river invited the emigrants from 
Massachusetts who founded Hartford, nor such as on the Tunxis 
attracted the emigrants from Hartford who founded Farmington, 
nor even 'boggy meadows'* such as below us, on our own Nau- 
gatuc, drew emigrants from Farmington to establish Waterbury ; 
so neither are there here such dreary sandy plains, nor such 
hard-bound sterile places, nor such rough rocky hights, as cer- 
tain other localities contain. If the territory here is not '' a land 
whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mavest dier 
brass [copper], "f as, respectively, is that of Salisbury in our own 
county, and of Bristol or Burlington in Hartford county adjoin- 
ing this ; still is it, as regarding theirs their chieftain told the 
Jews, " a land whieh the Lord thy (iod carcth for." Our soil, 
however some i^peak of it disparagingly, may be regarded as bv 
no means inferior in quality to that of the most part of New 
England, which part a gentleman, accurately aecpiaintcd with 
V)oth countries and in other respects competent to judge of the 
matter, pronounced to be, naturally, quite as productive as the 
soil per average of England.:}: Vet, by means of art apj)lied to 
it, how j)roductive we know England to be, "as a wat^Tcd gar- 
«len " which she is. While, therefore, the fathei-s were wise in 



•History of Watorbiuy. 

f.^*o, in AiUK'ndix, Note U. 

I.St-e in DwiKlilH Truvels, I. 21 J, 21:). 



38 

occupying this territory and did their part towards drawing forth 
its capabilities ; it concerns the heirs of the fathers to show an 
equal wisdom in carrying onward their sort of work. Let there 
be by the present occupants of this soil such improvements made 
as increased experience has suggested, such culture bestowed as 
with better implements is now cheaper than was the former cul- 
tivation with poorer ones ; thus bringing up its productiveness 
more nearly toward what the soil is worthy of and will appre- 
ciate and repay; then, amid the healthfulness* enjoyed here, 
with the outlay of labor diminished, and relatively larger returns 
for it obtained ; how enviable would each farmer's condition be- 
come. How much smaller a proportion of persons born here 
would then be either necessitated or inclined to wander over re- 
gions far from the scenes of their youth ; and, — the once dear 
attachments of home broken off, the still needed influences of 
the home bible and the home sanctuary gone, — to 'stop' (not 
settle) there in uncertain quest of gain, fThe number of dwel- 
lers in the township, instead of being as now less than it Avas fifty 
years since, would be greater. No person would say in dis- 
content, "What is the cause why the former times were better 
than these ?" All would recognize the present times as the bet- 
ter ones. Then would be known as fact, the stanza now regard- 
ed as fancy : 

Happy the niau whose wish and care 
A few paternal acres bound ; 
Content to breathe his native air 
On his own ground. 

For, exhibiting a proper self-reliance along with a right trust in 
God; an open-handed, true-hearted farmer, well-informed, re- 
flective ; having more fully than most men have a sound mind 
in a sound body; living amid his early companions, among his 
kindred, in his own house, on the spot selected by him out of 
his own fields which furnish, with other supplies for himself and 
for his household, "food enough and to spare;" not hampered 
with such debts as fasten upon and break down other men ; not 
undergoing conflicts with sharp temptation, or else coming out 

*See, in Appendix, Note V. 
fSee, in Appendix, Note "W. 



89 

of them the victor ; aloof from vicious dispositions ; a})art from 
social destroyers of social peace, from cabals, entanglements, 
tyrannies ; aiming to " work righteousness " towards himself, hLs 
fellow men, his God; in readiness to meet the demands of justice, 
of charity, of religion ; gratifying, so ftir as any one may, his 
desires; satisfying, if any one can, his wants; how much, while 
such things are his, does he fall short of possessing all that he 
needs ?* 

Although a few of the later inhabitants of llarwinton have, to some ex- 
tent, engaged in manufactures,! and althougli others, especially of late, 
have, to a greater extent, engaged in trade ;| yet the prevalent occupa- 
tion of our citizens has always been agriculture. For the sake of this 
dominant interest, and as confirmatory of suggestions above given, are 
added some remarks of one who, on such subjects, speaks with an au- 
thority to wliicli the present writer lias no claim, flaving mentioned, 
as the general fault of farming in New England, "an im])erfect. slight, 
and feeble tillage of too nuich land," he adds: "It might, in a measure, 
be remedied. If much greater attention were paid to the cultivation of 
various species of grass, and to the rearing of stock, far less labor would 
be requisite to tillage ; while at the same time the farmer's revenue would 
be increased, and a smaller ]iortion of his ploughing land?:, being put into 
a much higher state of cultivation, would yield him a much greater quan- 
tity of grain. Where he now obtains 200 bushels of grain from 20 
acres, he might then obtain the same quantity from 5 acres."— Now, if "the 
liberal soul shall be made fat ;" so s/iowW be, a liberal sotl. At least, 
however much a soil gives or may have given, who, if meanwhile there 
was liberally supplied to it that which nature provides for its fattening, 
ever found it growing lean ? 

THEIR SCHOOL PROVISIONS. 

In regard to the education of youth, there was active, among 
our early inhabitants, a spirit not unlike that of the first coloni- 
zers of New England. Our fathers, as was previou.sly mention- 
ed, were the posterity of those emigrants from England by 

♦AgricultiirHi liave, like otlier pursuits, their comimrativo evils. But, thoupli lie 
tayn it who is neither a furinor nor a fanner .s son, the balauee of advantago in- 
clines manifestly on the fanner's side. The degree of relative economical inde|K<n- 
denco usually attainable by persons of that oc-ciijMition, oufTlit to make en\'}- in their 
minds impossible. When they ' dance attendance on the great,' so called, their deg- 
radation is alike more pitiable and more eondemnabie than is that of 8\ich ' Han- 
kies ' and 'snobs' aa never .««aw u plouph. 

fSeei in .\j)pendii, Note X. 

JSee. in App«Mulix, Note W. 



40 

M^hom, after they had lived for a short time in certain of the 
oldest towns of Massachusetts, the oldest towns in Connecticut 
were founded.* The founders of these towns in said States 
were well-instructed, intelligent men, and so, in both instances, 
" their settlement in the wilderness was not a lodsjment of nom- 
ade tribes, a mere resting-place of roaming savages. It was the 
beginniiig of a permanent community, the fixed residence of 
cultivated men. Not only was English literature read, but Eng- 
lish, good English, was spoken and written, before the axe had 
made way to let in the sun upon the habitations and fields of 
the settlers", f 

In Massachusetts, begun in 1620, the General Court, so early 
as 1642, enacted a law declaring: 

For as much as the good education of children is of singular Ijchoof 
and benefit to any commonwealth ; [it is ordered,] that the selectmen of 
every town, in the several precincts and quarters where they dwell, 
shall have a vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbors to see, first, 
that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their families 
as not to endeavor to teach, by themselves or others, their children and 
apprentices, so much learning, as may enable them perfectly to read the 
English tongue, and knowledge of the capital laws. [Also,] that all 
masters of families do once a Aveek (at the least) catechise their children 
and servants in the grounds and principles of religion. 

In May, 1647, was passed a general law requiring of every 
township within the jurisdiction, consisting of fifty householders : 
. . .to appoint, forthwith, a teacher of all such children who should re- 



*Referrmg to these " first planters of Connecticut " so as to set their American 
abodes in contrast with their " illustrious characters," Dr. Trumbull says: They 
"twice made settlements. . . .on bare creation." 

f Address delivered at the completion of the Bunker Hill Monument, June 17, 
1843, by Daniel Webster. To the statement above quoted Mr. "Webster added : 
" And whatever may be said to the contrary, a correct use of the English language 
is, at this day, more general throughout the United States than it is throughout 
England herself." 

A corruption of the language in Western Connecticut, New Haven not excluded, 
seems of late to be extending; viz., a misuse adverbially of the word 'good,' as in 
the following phrases : 'It seta good ;' ' It fits good;' ' It eats good [, tastes well] ;' 
'He runs good,' 'writes good,' 'pays good,' 'sings good,' etc. In fact, the adverbs 
' well' and 'ill' are nearly supplanted by 'good' and 'bad,' as misapplied in the 
ordinary conversation of not few persons who, in other respects, converse correctly. 



41 

sort to liim, to loritc and read, [said teacher] to be paid cither by the 
parents or masters of such children or by the town. And farther, that 
every town consisting of one hundred famihes or householders should 
set up a grammar school, the master thereof being able to instruct youth 
so far as they may be fitted for the university [, to wit, Harvard College, 
established in 1636]. 

Citing that statute, John Quincy Adams once said:* "And 
listen to the beautiful,— may I not say, sublime,— preamble to 
this law, declaring the motive and purpose of its enactment:" 

It being one chief project of Satan to keep man from the knowledge 
of the Scripture, as in former times keeping them in unknown tongues, 
so in these latter times by persuading from the use of tongues, that so 
at least the true sense and meaning of the original might be clouded 
and corrupted with false glosses of deceivers ; to the end that learnmg 
may not be buried in the graves of our fore-fathers, in Church and Com- 
monwealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors. It is (here/ore ordered by 
this Court and authority thereof, etc. 

In Connecticut, begun in 1634, the General Court, exhibiting 
the same zeal, passed, as early as 1650, laws the same in effect 
and assigning the same motives as above assigned; in factcopy- 
mg, for this matter, the laws of her mother Stat« nearly ver- 
batim.f As there was, however, no College at that time in Con- 
necticut, we find a provisof which declares : 

The proposition concerning the maintenance of SchoUars at [Harvard 
College in] Cambridge, made by the Comissioners, is confinned. And 
it is ordered, that two men shall be appointed in ouery Towne, within 
this Jurissdiction, whoe shall demaund what euery familye will giue, and 
the same to bee gathered and brought into some roome, in March, and 
this to continue yearly as it shall bee considered by the Comissioners. 

In the spirit which led to the above-quoted declarations and 
enactments, the General Court of this Colony, after Yale College 
had been established, made to it various grants of land, and es- 
pecially a grant in each (unless Salisbury be exceptedi^) o^ ^^^ 
new townships into which was divided the moiety of "the Western 
lands " received by the Colony as its jx>rtion, on the termina- 
tion oi the controversy it had, respecting them, with the Towns 

*In A Discourse on Kducation, delivered at Braintree, [Ma.,] Thursday, Oct. 24. 
1839. 
fSeo in Trumbull's Colonial Ilccxjrds, I. 520, 5'JI, Lbi, 556. 
JHoD. Samuel Church's Centennial Address at Salisbury, 20 Sept., 1841. 

6 



of Hartford and Windsor. In the same spirit, also, the General 
Court, designing to extend aid to humbler institutions, reserved 
in each of said townships, when offering these for sale, one of 
the twenty-five lots into which each of said townships was sub- 
divided, to be applied to the support of schools that should be 
in each of these established ; and it also, by an act passed in 
1733, directed that the proceeds arising from the sale of all those 
townships should be distributed to the several Towns then ex- 
isting in the Colony, to be by those applied in supporting schools : 

Viz, those schools that ought to be kept in those towns that are now 
settled, and that did make and compute lists of their polls, and ratable 
estate in tlie year last past, and such towns shall receive said money, 
every town according to the proportion of said list, and each parish to 
receive in proportion according to their own list given in as aforesaid the 
last year; all which money shall be let out, and the interest thereof im- 
proved for the support of the respective schools aforesaid forever and to 
no other use.* 

While the rights reserved for supporting schools were, in some 
of the new Towns within the then " Western lands," made quite 
serviceable to that end ; the chief benefit accruing from the Legis- 
lature appropriating the proceeds of sale of other rights in those 
Towns, to the support of schools in the older Towns, seems to 
have been, that it suggested or prepared the way for that Body, 
at a later period, to originate, — from the funds procured to the 
State by her cession, to the United States, of what were more 
truly "Western" lands, — that liberal "School Fund" by which, 
since 1796, the Common Schools of Connecticut have been, al- 
most exclusively of other means, maintained. 

What our fathers, in whose township there had been no right 
reserved for supporting schools, and for whose children no funds 
from any source had been appropriated by the Colony, were in 
the penury of their early condition enabled and inclined to ac- 
complish for that end ; the following extracts from their records 
will show. 

20 Jan., 1741-2. Uoted : that: wee will: haue schooling sum part 
of the year 

Uoted that theire be three : pence upon the pound Leued upon the 
Grand List in order to Maintain a School in the town 



*Quoted in the History of Waterbury, Connecticut, by Henry Bronson, M. D. 



Uoted that Jacob Benttm and Joiiatlian Hopkins iind Nathan Davia 
Be a Commity in order to prouidee Sofisiant School master and mistress 
for the year insuing in the town 

Uotod that the School for the Jnstructiug tlie youth to Right vVnd 
Read for two months this year Be att the Dweliug House of Jsarael 
Merinion, 

Uoted that the Rest of the Mony Be Left to the Discresion of the 
Commity to Lay out upon School Dames 

9 June, 1743. Voted that any parson or parsons Joyning to gelhcr 
to Build a School house in the town of Harwinton shall have Liberty 
to Build a Schoolhouse Sumwhero Neer the Meeting Hous upon there 
one cost. 

Uoted that Jsrael Merrimon and Daniel Bartholomew Be a Commity 
to Determin the place whare the School House Shall Stand 

13 Jan., 1745-G. it was Voted that there Shold be a School house 
built in Sum Cenvenient place near the meeting house in Said Town 

17 Feb., 1745-G. it is now Voted that y* above Said School house 
Shold butt Sumwhar neare y' SouthEast corner of y" R*": M': Andrew 
Bartholomew y' Lyeth West of y" meeting house* or near there as y* 
Comiitis descresion Shall Lad them 

Voted that y" above menshoned School house Shall be Eighteen feet 
in length & Si.xteen feet in Wedth one Story higii 

Voted that Do: ■' Jacol) Benton & Daniel Bartholonii.'w &; Jonathan 
Butler Shall be a Commity to order & See to y* building & finishing 
of y* above Said Schoolhouse 

it was Voted that all y" boards & Timber & Stone that was Left 
in finishing of y* Lour part of y* meeting house Shall be made Use of 
So fare as it will Go for the benifit of the above Said School house in 
any Use as sd Commity Shall See fit about sd house 

15 Dec, 1747. this meeting [, begun at the Meeting-House,] is 
aiorned to the School house in y* above Said town 

this meeting being opned at said School house they proseded uiz — 

Uoted that Amaziah Ashman Shall be a town Inhabitant in this Town. 

Uoted that there Siiall be a Rate Leued on poles and Ratabel Estats in 
this town of Seventy pounds money of the old tener to Defray the 
Charge of Building the Schoolhouse in this town in this year 

Uoted that there Shell Be Twenty pounds in money of the old tenor 
Leued on poles and Ratabele Estats in this town in order to maintaining 
of a Scho<jle a mongst in this town in the year Insuing 

Uoted that D' Jacob Benton & daniel Bartholomew &. Samuel Phelps 
Shall be a C'ommitus to Recceve and pay out the above Said money for 
Schooling as there DLsscreshon Siiall Lead them for the Best advantage 
for Enducating yuth amonst us in this town for the year Jn.>uing. 

13 Dec, 174S. Uoted that there* Shall be Eigiity pounds ui money 
of the old tenon Loved on pols and Ratabel Estats in this town in order 
to Cary [on] Scl»ooling in tiiis town the one half of it is to be improued 
to Iiire a School niatiler as fare as it Shall Go in this town for the year 



♦The prenu.409 indicatod are tlioso now owiioJ by Mr. Lowi.s Catlia,Jr. 



44 

insuing and the other half is to be improued to hire School danes in this 
town for y* year Insuing 

Uoted that d° Jacob Benton and and Samuel Phelps and Daniel Bar- 
tholomew and Daniel Phelps and Capt Daniel Messenger Shall be a 
Committee to order and a point a School master and School mistrises 
in this town in the year insuing and to Receive in and pay out the above 
Sum of money for the use aforesaid according to there Discresion for the 
Larning of the youth a mongst us to w[r]ight and Reade 

3 Dec, 1750, Voted that there be Sixty pounds leved for the hiring 
a School master to teach Children to Read & write Cypher the one half 
to be Raised by the town and the other half to be by the parents or mas- 
ters of the Children that thay Send to Said School 

Voted that there Shall be Forty pounds Raysd for the hiring of two 
women to teach Children to Read the Schools to be kept the one East 
Side of the town at Such Place as the Committee that Shall be Chosen 
Shall a point ; to be Raised one half by the town the other half by the 
parents and masters of the Children that thay send according to the 
number they send 

Voted that Ebenezer Hopkins Isaac Bull and Abijah Catling Shall 
be a Commitee to order the prudentals of the of the Schools in hiring 
a School master and School mistrises and disposing the money tliat was 
Voted for School according to the true intent for what it was Granted 

3 Dec, 1751. Voted that there Shall be one hundred pounds in 
money of the old tenor Raised in this Town for Schooling of Children 
in order to teach them to writ and Read the one half of s*^ money to be 
Raised on the Ratetabel Estate of the inhabitants and the other half to 

be Raised upon the poles of Such Children as Shall be Sent [to] 

School the above money to be divided upon the List on Each Side of 
the town and Improved as the Commitee that Shall Be Chosen Shall 
order the same in one Shool or more and to apoint the places to keep 
the Schools and git school masters for y* same 

Voted that Ebenezer Hopkins and Abijah Catling and Lt Aaron 
Cook and Israel Merriman and David Hayden and decon Daniel Phelps 
Shall be a Comm[ittee] to apoint the Places for the Schools and dispose 
of the School money for the Use for which it is voted for 

20 Dec, 1752. Voted that we will have a School in this town for 
the year Insuing to wit one month on the East Side of the town and 
one month at the School house in this town & one month on the "West 
Side the Town 

Voted that their Shall be f^ — ^l' oo hi money of the old tenor Leived 
on the one half of it Leived on the Ratable Estate in this Town and 
the other half of the s'^ money to be Leived on the poles of Such as Go 
to School in order to maintain a school among us 

Voted that Cyprian Webster & Samuel Phelps &; De° Jacob Benton 
Shall be a Commetee to apoint places for Said School and to hire a 
School master for said School 

18 Sept., 1753. Voted that their Shall be Seventy Pounds money 
Levied on the poles & Ratable Estates of the Inhabitants of this Town 
to Defray the Charges of the meeting house and of the Schooling that 



45 

we have had Done allready in this Town this year & pay for a Cloth to 
Cover the Ded that is allready provided in this town 

To the above extracts from the To\Tn Book I., should be add- 
ed, as follows, from the Records of "the west propriaters of har- 
winton :" 

■JO Marrh, 175.'?. voted that the proprietors will dispose of the un- 
devided Land tlie interest of S"* money to Support a School in the west 
propriety of Harwinton* 

These arrangements, — at first one school, in the Center of 
the Town ; afterwards, either two schools, the one on the East- 
erly, the other on the Westerly part of the Town, or three 
schools, one in each of those localities, — were found adequate 
until 1766, when, the population of the township being between 
800 and 1000 persons, there were made for School purposes ten 
Districts. To a good degree the Schools answered their design. 
The funds, needful to meet the expense of su.staining them, were 
provided freely. So much as, in 1750, £60, and, in 1751, £100, 
devoted here to educational purposes, though one should recol- 
lect that there was then the evil of a depreciated currency, may, 
in view of the small number of the householders then, the new 
condition of the settlement, and the fact that the firet house of 
worship was scarcely finished then, be pronounced a liberality, 
regarding education, which can be remembered with quite as 
much of admiration for our fathers, as of complacency toward 
ourselves.f 

*In the Records of the " Proprietors of East nar\vinton," the latest mention no- 
ticed of "undevided lauds" is under date of 174G, at which time "dock [Dear.] 
thomas richards" was allowed to "make his pitch'' of them. 

The last entry made in the Recortls of the " Proprietors of Kast llarwintou " is, 
under date of G Marcli, 1769, in these words: 

ajiimod to tho flnt uunday of uiarrh next 

The last entry made in the Records of tlie " Proprietors of West Harwinton" in, 
under date of 14 April, 1757 [,17G9?], in these words: 
Vot<-<I that tliU (DiTtlnR t>c tiljorncil to the first munday of marrh ITTu 
The Ro<'ords of these Proprietors, kept tlrst at llartfonl and Windsor respective- 
ly, at which plucos the tlrst meotinffs of siiid jwrsons were held, were kept, and 
said rai*etinps wore helil, in Ilurwintun. uftur llw organization of the Town. 

■fSoe, in Appendix, Note Y. 



46 



THEIR CHURCH BUILDING. 



If, as the fact was, the fathers here did well, in regard to edu- 
cational interests, so, in respect to another Adtal interest of the 
community, they approved themselves equally commendable. 
Not least, among the social wants which earliest drew their at- 
tention, was the necessity of possessing among themselves a 
structure in which, they with their children assembling, the so- 
cial element should have scope afforded to it for application and 
development and training, as to the highest of human concerns — 
an edifice appropriated to the public worship of their own great 
Father, God. For the many years before the building by them 
made for that purpose was employed, not even a Schoolhouse 
was ready to serve that end ; for, as may be seen by comparing 
the dates pertaining to notices which soon will be given, the first 
Schoolhouse was not erected until long after their 'Meeting- 
house' was reared. The Church-building, indeed, contributed 
towards tliat erection; the surplus materials of the larger edifice 
having been applied in the construction of the smaller one. Be- 
fore their edifice for public worship was sufficiently near com- 
pletion to allow their meeting in it, they worshipped together 
in the dwelling-house of one of their number. As they there 
attended upon the Christian ordinances, we may believe that 
they there obtained the Christian consolations, while on the fam- 
ily of that house was meantime descending such blessings as 
came to Obed-Edom's, when in his dwelling had sojourned " the 
ark of God." Still, this arrangement could last but temporarily. 
A building designed expressly for public social worship was their 
great need. Therefore such an one was, if it were possible, to 
be reared. 

If an enterprise of this nature should at this time be under- 
taken here, it would require thought, care, prudence, wisdom, 
patience, forbearance, union of feeling, with various other sorts 
of good moral qualities kept in exercise, as well as requisite pe- 
cuniary means. A work involving so many interests and pref- 
erences which never are easily kept in harmony, is indeed, at 
all times and among every people, found to be one of a delicacy 
equal to its magnitude. Our fathers, in prosecuting such a work, 



47 

had to contend with peculiar embarrassments. Besides the grat- 
ifying various tastes, and the conciliating and reconciling con- 
flicting interests, in men as they iLsually are situated, they had 
to consult not only how to accommodate best the conveniences, 
but how to remove best the prejudices of persons so recently 
brought together as not yet to have become assimilated to each 
other^ and with whom the ties which association promotes were 
yet to be, if they could be, established. The circumstance that 
they all were, for the present, so busied in providing for the 
supply of their physical wants by subduing, and as it were 
training to their use, lands almost wholly uninured to the 
plouglC and this other that, apart from mere ownership of such 
lands, their wealth yet remained to be created ; environed the 
work with difficulties more than ordinarily trying. We, in our 
condition which their accomplishment of the undertaking has 
benefitted, can only by an eifort appreciate the troubles that, in 
accomplishing it, they overcame. The following notices how- 
ever may, in part, show the difficulties wlii<-h ntt(>ndcd what 
they achieved. 

4 Oct, 1737. The inhabitants of Ilarwinton presenting, by 
their Agents, Daniel Messenger, Zechariah Seymour, and Antho- 
ny Hoskins, a Memorial to the General Court, in which they ask 
from that Body what they had unsuccessfully sought from it, 13 
May, 1736, "authority to embody in church order" and "to be 
incorporated* as a town," a.ssign as reasons for their request that, 
" the place being daily increasing, it will be necessary for us not 
only to have a settled mini.ster," but "also to build us a house" 
for divine worship.f 
20 Dec, 1737, at the first Town Meeting it was 

Uotcd that the Knhabitciits of the town of Ilarwinton hauo uery 

unanirauslv A priced to Build A Meteing House for Duunc Worship :— 

Voted we agree thus that the Meeting House Shall b.- set m the ben^ 

ter Line Between the Proprietors of Hartford and wuidsor Condishond 

that Windsor Propriators give their Proporshon of land Agreed for the 

JncurrigmentofourMinnistor and Pay half the Choost boddmg the 

•Persons inl.abitinp unit.eorporatcd torritory, won? limile<l as to political riKhta. 
Thoy were protected by the laws, but they had no voice iu enacting any law. 
fState Archives, " Ecclesiastical" Papers. 



48 

Meeting House and half the : 100 : Pound Agreed to giue the Minister 
Jn Labour : * 

Subsequent proceedings were had ; as at the several dates be- 
low may appear. 

2 May, 1738. Uoted and unanimusly agreed to APlye our Selues 
to the Generall Assembly now in there Present Sestions to A fix A Place 
for the Meeting Hous for the tow town of harwinton to Stand in for 
diuine worshiP: 

Uoted that M' daniel Messinger and m' Jsrcal Merriman Shall be A 
Commeete to make APhcation to Jenerall assemBly att there Present 
Sestions to fix de terminef and asartain the Place where A house to 
Meet in for the Pubhck worShiP of god Shall be Erectted and Built 
within the Bounds of Harwinton : * 

May, 1738. Daniel Messenger and Israel Merriman, acting 
as a Committee of the Town of Harwinton, present to the Legis- 
lature a request, that that Body will appoint a Committee to des- 
ignate a place for the site of a Meeting-house in Harwinton. 
The request was granted.:): 

6 Oct., 1738. The Committee appointed by the Legislature 
report, that they have located the Meeting-house "where the 
Litchfield [and Farmington road] crosses the line of east and 
West proprietors." Petitions of various persons are sent to the 
Legislature, expressing objections to the location selected, and 
dissatisfaction with those who had chosen it. The Legislature 
sustained the action of their Committee.:}: Harwinton takes other 
measures. 

1 Nov., 1739.§ Uoted to Chuse a Commeete of unJnterrastted Par- 
sons to afix or State aplace or Placses whare the jnhabitants of harwinton 
Shall Meet in on the Sabbath day untill there is A Meeting hous Built 
And Maad fit for the jnhabitants to Meet in on Said day to worship 
God in 

Uoted that !M[ John Burd : george May'ch [Marsh ?] and Edward 
Ph[e]lps: — Be the Men to fix or State the Place or Placses aboue 
Nameed — where we Shall Meet in on the Sabbath day to worship god 



♦Harwinton Records, Book I. 
fClassical, unwittingly? 'De termine;' good Latin not ill applied — if two 
words ; good English well applied — if one word. 

:|State Archives, "Ecclesiastical" Papers. 

§So in the original. The ' 9 ' is an error. The ' 8 ' was pet over, to correct, it. 



49 

It is now uoted that M' Daniel Messinger and M' danicl Phelps Bo A 
Commcetc to lay the Surcomstances of our cases before these Men and 
to brin^ there return or answer to the inhabitants of the town of har- 
winton* 

12 Dec, 17.'{8. Voted that Joseph Richards and Jolin Wilson Be 
tything men* 

Of such officers, not previously chosen in Ilarwinton, the need 
in present circumstances was very apparent. 

4 May, 1739. Voted that M' daniel Messinger And Samucll Phelps 
be a conimeete to A Plie our Selues to the general Court that the Place 
for A meeting House that was Picht on by the general Courts Comraeete 
may be Confirmnied or A New Commeete be A Poyntted to A fixe A 
Place for te said town of Ilarwinton for their metinghouse to Stand in 
ur on* 

10 May, 1739. Daniel Messenger and Samuel Phelps, Agents 
in behalf of the Town of Ilarwinton, make application to the 
Legislature for confirmation of the location, etc. The location, 
;is selected per Committee of the Legislature, is confirmcd.f 

21 Sept., 1739. voted that the Length of the meeting Hous for the 
Knhabitants of Ilarwinton Shall be fiffty foot in length and forty foot 
wid and the height to be twenty four foot between Joyiits 

Voted that M' Jsral Merreman Bengimen Catling and Jacob Benton 
Be A Commeete to order and Cary on or h^t out the Building of the 
Said Meeting Hous 

Voted that A Rate Shall Bo Mad of tweelue Pence uPon the Pomid 
Jn the List be granted & Mad to Caryon the Building of the said Meet- 
ing Hous 

Voted that Jonathan Catling and Isaac Bull be Collectors to Jather 
the aboue granted rat for the Carying on the Building of Said Meeting 
Hous* 

27 Sept., 1739. The Lcgi.slature arc apprised that Ilarwinton 
liuve a Committee chosen to direct and 'contract' for buildinc: a 
Mecting-housc.f 

8 Oct., 1739. A rate of land is referred to,f probably in aid 
of the Building. 

14 Doc, 1739. Joseph Merrcmon and Moses Webster be tvthing 
men 

Voted to giuc M' jsrael merremon three Pounds fcir the use of his 
i b)us one year to met in on the Sabbath day 1 

♦Hnrwiiiton R<»conl». Book I. 

f.^^Uttc An.'lii%os, " i'kt-lcHiastical " PajicrH. 

JTht-y thus, of their privilege, said to lum, us David, of land and oxen for an 

;iU;ir "«ai.| iin''> \ r nujah, Noy ; but I will Hiirely buy it of thee for « price: neither 



50 

"Voted that the Meeting House as to the former width be mad fine 
foot narrowwer than the former uot was * 

7 May, 1740. More difficulties are developed; as Pelatiah 
Mills, Daniel Bissel, Hezekiali Bissel, Josiah Higley, Ebenezer 
Tyler, Samuel Barber, Thomas Bull, Samuel Haydon, Daniel 
Phelps, Job Alford, Daniel Gillet, John Stoughton, and Noah 
Loomis, petition the Legislature that ' they may be discharged 
from paying any tax on land lying within two and one quarter 
miles from the south end of the town.'f The Meeting-house 
was by them, it seems, regarded as likely to be erected too far 
north for their convenience.:}: 

13 May, 1740. Other dissatisfaction is manifested; as Benja- 
min Catling, Israel Merriman, Jacob Benton, Jonathan Hopkins, 
Jonathan Catling, Jonathan Brace, Ebenezer Hopkins, John 
Coult, Samuel Phelps, Hezekiah Hopkins, Stephen Hopkins, 
Joseph Kichards, Joseph Merriman, Samuel Catling, Nathan 
Davis, James Cole, Abijah Catling, Jonathan Butler, Zechariah 
Seymour, Jr., Nehemiah Messenger, Amos Hinsdell, Satouel 
Moody, certify to the Legislature, that 'they had not been invi- 
ted to a friendly conference in regard to locating the Meeting- 
will I ofifer burnt-offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me noth- 
ing." The whole enterprise of this Church building showed our fathers exhibiling 
the same commendable spirit. Too many serve God with what costs them very 
little ; some indeed, if they serve him at all, with hardly even that. 

Mr. Merriman's house is said to have stood where stands the one, built by Rev. 
Dr. Pierce, at present owned and occupied by Mrs. Orson Barber. — At Wallingford, 
Ct., "till April, 1680, the first settlers assembled for religious worship in a private 
house, Lieut. Nathanael Merriman's." "Nathanael Merriman [diedj February 13, 
1694, ^t. 80." A CENTURY DISCOURSE Delivered at the ANNIVERSARY 
Meeting Op the FREEMEN of the TOWN of WALLINGFORD, APRIL 9, 1770. 
By James Dana, d.d. NEW HAVEN: Printed by T. and S. Green. 

*Harwinton Records, Book I. f State Archives, "Ecclesiastical" Papers. 

^Whatever disadvantage, as to distance, was occasioned to some of the fathers 
by the location adopted for their Church edifice, that location seems to have pro- 
cured additions to the number of worshippers in their Town. It appears, from the 
State Archives as above referred to, that, in 1757, certain Torringford people were 
Harwinton church-goers ; and that, in 1771, John Wiard, Joseph Bacon, Joseph Bacon, 
Jr., Daniel Bacon, Asa Yale, Asa Yale, Jr., Titus Bunnel and Ruth Davis were for 
religious purposes transferred from Farmington (that part now Burhngton) to Har- 
winton. For a long period certain families residing in the nearer part of New- 
Hartford have worshipped here. 



51 

house, nor had they hetml ol' it till alter iho nifctin^-,' for that 
purpose, had been held.* 

y. July, 1740. Uoted tliat arate of Eight teon Ponce uPuii the 
round in the hst Be Made on the Ratable E.state that is in the town of 
Harwinton Now Set down in the list and it .Shall be Put to the use of 
( 'arring on the nesesary Charges of finishing the Mee[t]ing House 

Uoted that the glase for the meetting House Shall be of that size that 
is Colled Seuen Eiichs and Nine 

Uoted that M' daniel Messinger Shall haue one Pound eleuen Shilings 
and SixPence out of the towji tresurror for rum y' was found f*tr the 
raisingf of the Meting HousJ 

'J 2 Dec, 1740. uoted this town will not moot at the house of m' 
Jsrael merremans onthe Sabbath day under the Present Circumsances 

uoted that this town will moot oti the Sabbath day three months next 
ensuing at M' Beniamin Catlings haus and after that tomeet on Sabatli 
<lay three months at the hous of m' Jsaac bulls or m' SaniuJ Phelps| 

20 Jan., 1741-2. Up to this date the Town Meetings had 
been attended " at the hous of Jacob Benton," or " at the IIous 
of Mr Jsreal Merremons ;" one at the latter-named place so late- 
ly as 15 Dec, 1741 ; but now one is recorded as held "att tho 
meetingbous on the 20 day of January year 174i." There such 
meetings, at least, were held thenceforward. Public worship, 
though under circumstances of inconvenience, was probably 
commenced there about this time. 

23 July, 1744. Uoted that wee will have But one Roo of pows 
Round the meeting Hewse 

Uotod that the Joinners works of the SaiJ ^^eeting Hou.se Shall 
Seace untill the anuall Meeting in Desember next insuing this meeting 

\H Doc, 1744. Uoted that y* present Commetee Shall have Lvltor- 
ty to agree with y* Joyners in this Town if they Can agree with thoni 
in order to finish y* meeting house So high as to Lav v* Galarv floors 

\'A May, 174.3. Voted that we will Seat the Mooting House^ 

•JO May, 1745. Voted that iP Jacob Hinsdell and M' Joseph hayden 
and Cyprian Webster Shall be a Conimity in order to Seat the meeting 
house in the above sd Town 

17 Sept., 1745. Thirty pounds in money [before voted] in order U> 
Git a Stock of powder Shall now be payd out to the Joynors to defray 
the Charges of finishing said meeting house [. Other specified sums aro, 
by vote, appropriated to the same purpose.] 

•State Arcliives, " Eccleaiaslical " PapcrH. 
f.See, ill Appendix, Note Z. 
Illurwinton Records, Book I. 

gTlii."? voto indicat«« that ft constant oooupnnoy of the edifloo, re^ilated acconl- 
iag to the commou method of those limes, wna at liaud. S**, in Appendix, Note A A. 



52 

Voted that [the Building Committee] Should Dignify the Seats in 
Said meting house & give Instruction to the if Commity that was Cho- 
sen to Sate the Meeting house in Righting* 

25 Sept., 1745. Report is made, that " the inside work and 
the gallery are finished."f 

17 Dec, 1745. Voted that what tlie Seeters that was Chosen to 
Seet the meetinghous there Seeting of it Shoold be of no valu [N. P. the 
dignifying of the Seets and the Jnstructions that the Commity that was 
Chosen gave to the Seeters inorder to Seet the meeting house Shall l)e 
of no Ualu or Signifycation 

y'' Town Excepted what M' Jacob Hinsdell Did in Seeting tlie meet- 
ing House in sd Town 

17 Feb., 1745-6. it was Voted that all y" boards & Timber & Stone 
that was Left in finishing of y" Loar part of y* meeting house Shall be 
made Use of So fare as it will Go for the benifit of the above Said 
School house in any Use as sd Commity [,at the present Meeting of the 
Town appointed, for building a School-house,] Shall See fit about sd 
[School] house 

Voted that Ebenezer Hopkins & Jacob benten & Samuel Wesson & 
John Wesson & Asa Hoskins & Amos Catling & Timothy Stanly & 
Nehamiah Hopkins & William Cook Shall Sit in y^ pew under y* Stares 
at the west end of the meeting house & that Sarah Merimon & Sarah 
Phelps & Ann Hinsdell & Mary Hopkins & Abigail Stanly & Mary 
Kellogg & Elisabeth Webster & Ruth Phelps & Martha Davis & Han- 
nah Phelps Shall Sitt in y* pew under the Stares at y^ East End of the 
meeting housej 

3 Dec, 1750. Voted that there shall be ;fo_oo:oo. ino"ey old tenor 
Leved on poles and Ratable Estats in this toAvn in order to pay the 
Charges that Shall arise in Citing the Glass that is wanting for the 
meeting house & y** Steps for y* meeting house door and to pay other 
Charges that Shall arisse in this town in year insuing 

it was Voted that the Select men of this town for the time Being 
Shall be a Commitee to Regeulate the Seting of the meeting house in 
this Town for y® year insuing 

3 Dec, 1751. Voted that the Sura of Forty Pounds in money of 
the old tenor be raised on the pols and Ratabel Estates of the Inhabi- 
tane of this town in order to Repare the meeting House in this town at 
the Discresion of the Select men of this town 

20 Dec, 1752. Voted that we will take up all the Long Seats in 
the meeting House Exepting the two fore Seats one on the Right Side 
the Grate alley and the other on the Left side 

Voted that there shall be 50 — 00 — 00 pounds in money old tenor 

*Harwinton Records, B. I. 

f State Archives, "Ecclesiastical" Papers. 

:j:The males sat on the right side of the house ; the females, on the left side of it. 
The same custom, in that day, obtained in other places. By certain denominations 
of Christians, mostly outside of New England, that method is not yet abandoned. 



53 

Leveil on the Ratiiblo Elstate in UiLsTown to dftfray the Cliarg of Biild- 
ing of the Pews in flio Body of tlie meeting lioudc 

Voted that De" Jacob Benten & Abijali Catling & Cyrrian Welj.sl.-r 
Shall be a Commetee to Look after and See that the Pews be made in 
the body of the meeting liouse and to draw tlie said 50 — 00. 00 pounds 
in money and dispose of it to the -workmen that doe the work 

Voted that De" Jacob Benten & Cyrrian Webster & vVbijah Catling 
& Lt Nathan Davis & Lt Samuel Phelps & Capt Jacob Hinsdell Shall 
be Seeters of the meetinghouse after the ))ews are made* in the Loer 
part of the Meeting House in this town in the year Insuingf 

The building wliich thus our fathers erected, and which tho 
delays that inevitably occurred made old, even while it was 
young, stood somewhat south of that which the Congregational 
Church now occupies. A centenary continuance it had. When 
one looked upon it in 1840, though it had then been dismantled 
and, put to municipal use some thirty years, had come into a 
most Ibrlorn state of dilapidation ; he could sec in it ye traces 
of its original design. Duly conformed to the mode of Church- 
ly architecture adopted by many rural Towns in the fathere' 
time, their edifice, by its length and its breadth a square not 
much oblong, — having, in connection with no tower, no porti- 
* CO, no vestibule, a froijt door and two side doors, opening in- 
ward, — exhibited interiorly, at a remarkable elevation from its 
ground-floor, a balustraded gallery extended along all its sides, 
except that whereto the lofty pulpit, fronting one of three paral- 
lel aisles and with a conspicuous sounding-board surmounted, 
firmly adhered; and in either angle, farthest from the pulpit, the 
entrance to a partially enclosed flight of stairs by which ac- 
cess to the gallery was given, t That building our fatliers ven- 
erated as a "holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High." 
Not small was the joy which they felt when they beheld it lu^, 
at last, finished. Saying, as with a like reference David said, 
"Of thine own have we given thee,'' tliey now had, in comfort 
and witli profit, just to use it for that principal purpose whicli, 
during their struggles, jwrplexities, toils, they at no time had 

*Soe, in Appcndbc, Note BB. 

fllarwinton Reconls, B. I. 

XA. structure, like theirs, stood in Torringfonl, where it was used as tlie place 
for public worship, till obout 1841; others of similar oonstructiuu may. perhaps, 
in some few New England Towns, bo still visible. 



54 

lost sight of, but with steady praiseworthy persistence had kept 
ever in view. 

Circumstances like our fathers', as they have just been brought 
to our attention, show to us what a work it was, in the middle 
of the last century, to establish a new Town* In New Eng- 
land thus laborious was a beginning, and only through effort "so 
as by fire " were effected municipal and religious organizations. 
The difficulties at that time encountered at the East were really 
greater than, with the wealth and other increased facilities of our 
day, await the establishment of new Towns at the West. But 
from effort comes again ability ; Pallas from Jupiter's head. In 
fact, from toil and groans with faith and prayer have sprung 
those excelling qualities in New England which have made her 
sons and even hei- soil generous. The man who thinks of him 
as being niggard, has yet to know the genuine New Englander. 
If he was himself born there, either his birth was misplaced, or 
he is recreant to his ancestry. Let him manifest whether he 
comes up or can be drawn up to their measure of doing and giv- 
ing for worthy ends. How often are his benefactions an equa- 
tion, in the percentage, of theirs; out of each hundred owned, 
now five and now seven or eight dollars given annually in pro- 
moting a community's welfare ? In that ratio our predecessors 
here gave, levying upon their estates a tax ungrudgingly paid, 
one year of twelve, another of eighteen pence to the pound. 
This they did, that by their community a "sanctuary" in which 
to " come before the Lord" might be obtained, and for their min- 
ister and his due maintenance be secured. Not great was ' all 
their living,' but its outgo provided an income more than re- 
storing the "two mites." Thus by painstaking which benevolence 
renders pleasant, and self-denial which piety makes easy, was 
their work, as should be every good work, commenced, persevered 
in, consummated, approved. " For who hath despised the day 
of small things?" Only a degenerate son of better men than he 
who, by doing thus, proves himself unworthy of such sires. In- 
stead of looking back superciliously upon our fathers, we rather 
should gratefully recognize "the grace of God" in them; mani- 

*As it wa3 to build Rome : Tantm moUs erat Romanam condere gentem. 



55 

festcd, as said an apostle of "the churches of Macedonia," so 
"that in a great trial of aflliction, the abundance of their joy and 
their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality,"* 



CHAPTER III. 
THE PROPHETS. 

The primary acknowledgment of thankfulness, for the relig- 
ious as well as the other blessings possessed by our fathers and 
by ourselves, is due to God. Yet it having pleased him, " both 
theirs and ours," that a large part of our share of such favors 
should be brought to us by our fathers' hand; we properly hon- 
or him as well as them when, for the agency which thus they 
had in the transmission, we render, as true sons of our fathers, 
a secondary grateful ascription to these. Their agency in effect- 
ing this, having been considerately directed towards our welfare, 
makes evident their kindly intention; so that our possession of 
the favors by them transmitted, is the result of a design which, 
;vs well on their part and in their lesser measure, as on God's 
part and in God's greater measure, has been successfully accom- 
plished. If it was indeed their energy which conquered the 
mighty forests here, and made here fields to smile and gardens 
to rejoice ; so, to the same extent, it was their wisdom which 
set up those institutions best characterizing and most distinguish- 
ing our lot ; and, to the same extent, it was their piety which 
laid the foundation of that regard for the enjoined observances 
uf divine worship through which come our noblest, highest 
hopes, with our richest, fullest consolations. They gained and 
cherished and nurtured piety, as we must, by personal endeav- 
ors ; but they found aid to such endeavors, — aid in acquiring, 
enlarging, expressing, applying piety, — ;us wc do, from the ap- 
point<.d ordinances of Christianity, witli her ministers and their 
ministrations. 

The time when the Congregational Church in llarwinton wa.s 



*See, iu Appendix, Note CC 



56 

formed is not stated in any records found in Harwinton ; nor 
have patient researches in other places, deemed likely to contain 
accounts of that event, done more than tantalize inquiry. Yet 
there is no reason to suppose that a custom nearly universal as 
to new Towns in New England, during the earlier part of the 
last century, was departed from in Harwinton ; if it was followed 
here, the Church was organized on the same day in which its 
first pastor was ordained. That day is indicated (,on pp. 57-60,) 
to have been 4 Oct., 1738. As the formation was hardly possi- 
ble on a day either later or earlier than that, the date sought be- 
comes thus sufficiently manifest. 

The Harwinton Church thus was prior in time to all the other 
Churches in the county ; except the Litchfield, organized in 1722 ; 
the New Milford, organized in 1716 (,at that time, in New Haven 
Co.); the Woodbury, First, organized in 1670 (, at that time in 
Fairfield Co.); and to all those in the Consociation, Litchfield 
South, save those above excepted, and the Southbury, organized 
in 1732-3 (, at that time in Fairfield Co. ; at this, in New Haven 
Co. ; though its locality as well as its ecclesiastical relation was, 
rom 1786 to 1818, in Litchfield County). 

THE FIRST PREACHER. 

The earliest account discovered of social religious worship being 
attended publicly in Harwinton, is contained in a document, j)re- 
served in the State Archives* at Hartford, and herein before re- 
ferred to as bearing date, 13 May, 1736 ; a 'Memorial of George 
Wyllys, Daniel Messenger, Nathan Davis, and the rest of the in- 
habitants of Harwinton.' After ' referring to a tax, granted ' by 
the General Court, in May, 1735, 'of one penny on a pound for the 
support of preaching, etc.', it relates, that " The Memorialists have 
thereupon hired y" very worthy M' Timothy Woodbridge, Jun', 
who hath for a considerable time preached to us, to the univer- 
sal content, satisfaction, and approbation of us his hearers." It 
farther relates, that 'they had agreed to pay him £104, per an- 
num, that is, 30 \s a week and his board: [that] they were then in 

*" Ecclesiastical " Papers. 



57 

sirreurs lo M' Woodbridgc lor the preceding year; and (that tlnn- 
therefore] ask authority to hiy another tax.' Of the hust named 
person, as connected with llarwinton, our State records have no 
other notice and our Town records have none* 

TllK FIHST rAPTOH. 

In the State Arcliivesf is a Memorial, herein before reierred 
to as dated 4 Oct., 1737, addressed to the General Court by its 
signers, Daniel Messenger, Zechariah Seymour, and Anthony 
Hoskins, in behalf of themselves and of the other inhabitants 
of Harwinton. 'Asking authority to embody in church estate, 
to be incorporated as a Town, and to lay a tax for support of a 
minister,' the memorialists relate, that " it will be necessary for 
us" "to have a settled minister (in regard to which we have aj)- 
plyed to a Gentleman who is well approved of by the Ministei-s 
&c. in the Gov', and especially by us to pretich for us some con- 
siderable time, to great satisfaction, and have as far as was con- 
sistent with our duty ca])itulated with him about a settlein') and 
also," etc. 

From this Memorial, as c<^mpared with the earlier one, it is 
plain that a second person ;us preacher is intended. The votes 
below-quoted refer to him. 

I Nov., 17:n. Alt a mooting of llie Proprit-tors of cast Hai wiiitdii 
hoM att tlio house of Mr Daniel Mossenfjer by a Jurinnent 

Voted tliut the Proprietors (Jive to the first man that is unlaiiiiMl ui 
I lie work of the niinistrv amongst us one Ifuiuheil aCres of Laiii] and 
that lie may Chu8c it where it Shall best »Sute Him in our undevided 
Land in the maner & form as our Lotts ware Laid out in provided he 
Sliall Contincw in the work of the ministry and in Principelsto wich he 
is ordained 

Voted that m' Daniel Brown and ni' Daniel Messenger boa Conmiitee 
to go to Winsor Proprietors meting k to im form them what we liave 
done at our Proprietors meeting and to make return of what they dow 
to our ne.vt meetingj 

20 Dec, 1737. The inhabiUmU^ of Harwinton in th.-ir lirst 
Town Meeting assembled, to their vote expressing their unani- 
mous agreement "to Build A Meteing House for Diuin<' Wor- 
ship," add an explanatory and restrictive one : 

•Soc, in Appendix, Note DD. 
f " Ecclesiasliial " Papers. 
IF^ast Ilnrwiiitoii Records. 



58 

Voted we agree thus that the Meeting House Shall be set iu the Seii- 
ter Line Between the Proprietors of Hartford and windsor Condishond 
that Windsor Propriators give their Proporshon of land Agreed for the 
Jncurrigment of our Minnistor and Pay half the Clioost boilding the 
Meeting House and half the : 100 : Pound Agreed to giue the Miuistor 
Jn Labour : * 

At this period the Proprietors of "East Harwinton" held 
their meetings within their Propriety here; but, as the next cited 
vote shows, the Proprietors of "West Harwinton" were, for the 
most part, non-residents on their Propriety still. Their meet- 
ings, also, were afterwards held here. 

7 Feb., 1737-8. In Windsor upon the Seventh Day of Feb''-^ : 1737-8 
Voated that M' Daniel Bissell Jun'' Mr Nathan Davis & Koger New- 
bery or any two of them be a Com"" to Dispose of to y'' first ordained 
minister Jn Harwinton Sixty Acres of Land Lying y" North End of y* 
Middle Tear of Home Lots & about twenty five acres of undivided 
Land Lying at y* West End of the fifty acres already Granted to y" 
first ordained minister upon such tearms as They Shall agree and Exe- 
cute a Deed thereof to Himf 

2\ Feb., 1737-8. Whereas there is no time limitted or mentioned 
how Long such Minister Shall Continue in the Ministry to be Entituled 
to the sd greants &c 

it is therefore Voted and Agreed by the pro})trs that the sd One hun- 
dred acres of Land Shall be Granted and the same is hereby Granted 
unto the first minister of the Gospel that shall be settled and ordained 
to the ministry amongst us and to his heirs and assigns forever 

Prouided Such Minister Shall Continue in the Ministry And PrienfalLs 
[principles] in which he shall be ordained for the full space of five years 
next After his ordination without any condition or limitationj 

21 Ap., 1738. Att a metting of the Jnhabitants of the town ol 
Harwinton legily wornied to be at the hous of Jacob Benton A Prid 
the 21 1738 

Voted that M'' Antony Horskins be Moderator for this Meeting- 
Voted And unanimusly a Greed to giue M' Andrew Bartholoim-w 
A Call to Setel in the work of the ministry a Mongust us. — 

Voted that M' Daniel Messinger Israel Merriman Jacob Benton dau- 
iel Brown Cyprian Webster Nathan Dauis & M' Daniel Phelps Shall 
be A Coumieete to treet with M' Andrew Bartholomew in order to 
asettelment in the work of the Menesterry A mongst us and to Lay the 
Propossels y' AUready haue been Proposed before him and to bring his 
Answer if any bemad to the next meeting for a further Confirmation 

*Harwinton Records, Book I: . 

(■West Harwmton Records. 
:l;East Harwinton Records. 



r)9 

Ami it is fartlier uotod that the said Coinmct-to or any tow of thorn Sliall 
make ther APHcation to the next Association for tiuTo advicf in ordor 
to tlic Settolmpnt of a minister amongst us * 

9 May, 1738. The Committee, apijoiuted by the vote Ijist 

i|Uotccl, made report to the Town, at a Meeting " Held by ad- 

jouriimen att the hous of Mr Israel Merremoii may the : : 

1738," "tliMt M' Andrew liartholomcw will P^xcept of our Pro- 

possuls." 

28 Aug., 17;'.S. Att. A. :\[eoting &c at tlio lions of ^[r J.-^ioal Mor- 
i-pmons August the : 2S : 1738 : 

Uotfd that M' Benjamin Catlin Daniel Messingcr and daniol rhlujlps 
He a Comnieote to Send to the Neighbouring Minsters forthere Assist- 
tance Jn Ordaining of the re".:! M' Andrew Bartholomew and also f o makf 
what Proui.'?on is Ne.ssesary for the Ordainnatioji* 

In the Town Hecords, Book I., Mr Bartholomew's acknowl- 
t'dgnu'nt.s of salary received show that his oflicial year be<ran 
and ended on 4 October. His first acknowledgment is of, as he 
expressed it, "the Money Part on the account of My Mini.strv 
at k untill October the fourth one thousand Seuen Hundred k 
thirty Nine." The other 'Part' thus implied was labor on his 
land which, as several votes of the Town show, was stipulated 
to be given him annually by the male members of his flock. 

2 Ap., 1739. Att a meeting of the Proprietors of the Ea.st Part of 
Harwinton Holden ))y Adjournment att the house of M' Daniel Messen- 
ger Jn Ilarwinton on the 1st Monday of April) Anno Domini 1739. 
\'oted y' ('apt'" George AVyllys, Mr Benjamin Catlin, & M' J)an" Me.s- 
?enger Be a Committee Jn the Behalf of the Proprietoi-s of ih.. ?]ast 
Part of Ilarwinton To Give a Good & LawfuII Deed to the Rev'' M' 
Andrew Bartholomew & to His Heirs & Assigns for fiver of the 
Homelott that Was Laid Out for the First Ordaind Minister that Should 
Settle in the Work of the Ministry Jn ITarwint<jn 

Dec., 1744. Wliereas the Proprietors of Kast linrwintDH at their 
Seuerall Meetings [voted] to giui" one hiuidred Acres of lantl to the 
lirst Ordained Minister in .s** town u]M.n C<.ndittion ..f his Continuing 
liegTilarly in tlie Ministry as nt llie Beginning with respect to Princi- 
ph's for the term of fine years after his ordination & Chose A : Conmiit- 
tee to lay out s** Land according to his Ciioic' as may l)e .seen in v* notes 
in the Projirictors Book at their Particidar Meetings Dated September 
21 : 1731 [?]: and february : 21 : 1737": march 22: 1738— which term 
of time was Compleated in o<tober y' 4"' 1743 Pursuant then-fore 
•to s* Uotes we the Subscribers CJap' Dnniell Messenger Kn.sit'n Jonathan 

♦Hurwinton Records, B. I. 



Hopkins deacor Jacob Beuten: & : nV Cyprian webster Being of the Num- 
ber of the Com'""" — appointed to lay out Said Land [,etc. — Said Com- 
mittee find that said quantity of land belongs to] the Ren'"' M'' Andrew 
Bartholinew who was the first Ordaind minister [: and they proceeded] 
IS"" of february Ad 1745-6 [to survey and lay out said quantity] and 
also 12 acres 1-2 [addition] we haue allowed for Roughness of land* 

Town Records and Proprietors' Eecords, in the extracts above 
given, impart tbe date of the first pastor's induction, 4 Oct., 
1738. Compared with other Churches in Litchfield county, the 
Congregational Church in Harwinton has a priority the same, as 
to its setthng its first pastor, with that before specified (, p. 56), 
as to its formation. Precedence or subsequence of this kind 
helps no one greatly, harms no one much, is related distantly to 
one's responsibleness ; but there is something through which, as 
duly regarded or not, persons within this Church and persons 
outside of all Churches are sure to find chief benefit or direst 
injury ; it is a matter which takes and keeps a direct hold of the 
conscience, presenting there the sort of precedence that all men 
are to seek for as vitally momentous to them ; for to all men is 
the favor granted, on all is the obligation imposed, of rising 
daily to some higher ]30sition on that scale which exhibits tlu^ 
need of, as well as measures and announces, moral worth. 

Mr. Bartholomew's pastorate in Harwinton was by years long- 
er than any which succeeded it there. It left scanty historic ma- 
terials. There is in the Church's possession no account of the 
Church's condition and proceedings in his time. The Town 
Records have supplied most that is known of him. As these 
furnish no ground for a different conclusion, the inference seems 
to be warranted that, until his ministry drew toward its end, the 
course of things relative to him and the Church and the Town, 
moved on with a general uniformity and smoothness. Proba- 
bly, no peculiar sorrows saddened his mind and no extra-labo- 
rious exertions prematurely broke the springs of his energy. 
But these at length give yvsij. His relation as pastor ceases. A 
year or two subsequently, all his relationships on earth termi- 
nate. 

26 Nov., 1772. Voted to Give M' David Ely a call to preach three 
or four Sabbaths on probation 

'''East Harwinton Records. 



61 

I I ).'(•., 1772. Tlif> Committee Rpport that M' Davifl Kly "Would 
N(.t tarry to iircach on tlie above [not ineiilion«>(ll proposals. \'otod to 
.^f'liil forM' David Kly* to come and prraHi AVitli u.s — Voted lliat StP- 
plieii Butler Should apply To M' Ely 

'_»:? Feb., 1773. Voted that Committee Should Apply to M' Robert 
Hubbard Kiutiier Voted that If s"* rommittee Could Not Obtain Mr 

llubbert tluit they .vjioidd Apjdy to some one Khc to Supply ih.' 

pu1|iit 

'27} Mav, 1773. Voted to Give M' Rolu-rt Hubbard* a e:dl to (•••ni.- 
.\nd Settle In the work of the Ministry 

Voted to Discharge the Rev'' W Andrew Harthol"' From Giving in 
a List During hi.s life— Provided S'' ReV' M' Rarthdlomew Discliarges 
The Town from paying him his Saleryf 

1 June, 1773. The proposal, inailc in tlic liust vote above 
tpioted, was acceptx^d by Mr. Bartholoinew ; as appears by the 
ajjreeineut which in full is reconled.f 

7 Sept., 1773. Voted the Committee Shall apply T.. M' David Per- 
ry to preach with them The Winter Conieingf 

21 Sept., 1773. The action, specified in the vote la.-i ipu'ir.j, 
\v:is renewed. 

11 Oct., 1773. Voted the vSociety Committee Shall apply to M' Da- 
vid Perrv to Settle In the work of the Ministry In the Town of har- 
winton 

10 Jan., 1774. Voted to Discharge The Rev'' Mr Andrew Rarthol"' 
From paying any taxes or Rates whatso<ver During Life on f'nnditions 
He Continues in ITarwintonf 

2 Feb. 1774. A vote Wius pa&set I providing': that Mrs iiar- 
tholomew, if she should survive her husband, should in like 
manner be exempted.f 

"...Dismissed from his relations to the Society, by an eeelesias- 
tieal council convened for that purpose, Jan. 26th, 1774,"t the 
remnant of the first pastor's life wa.s here spent where, (> March, 
1776, he died.:}: 

Mr Bartholomew was bom, at \Vallin<,d'ord, in 1711. lie 
graduated at Yale College in 1731. No account apix-ars of the 
theoloo-ical studies lie may have pursued, neither any of the 
place or occupation he may have been in, between his Im 

•S«e, in ApiK'ndix, Note I'D. 

f Fkrclosiastical Society Records. Bffjk 1 

JSee. in Appendix, Note KK 



ri\!' 



62 

college and his ordination. Of two anecdotes related respect- 
ing him, the one* imports that he was, in personal appear- 
ance, not prepossessing; the other, — referring to his having 
without opportunity for premeditation preached a sermon, on an 
occasion when other ministers present had declined to preach, on 
the ground that they were then without preparations for such a 
service, — implies, perhaps, that he had a ready mind. He seldom 
preached otherwise than extempore. In the discussions that, 
during the middle part of the last century, were prevalent in 
New England, in respect of what is with more familiarity than 
exactness called 'the half-way covenant system,'' Mr. Bartholomew 
was known to be decidedly and practically averse to the views 
ably presented in this vicinity by the Rev. Dr. Bellamy. Against 
Dr. Bellamy's positions on that subject, Mr. Bartholomew pul3- 
lished a pamphlet in 1769. What can be recollected of this 
production is that it exhibits a considerable degree of mental 
acuteness, without acerbity of temper; and that it indicates the 
tiuthor to h.';.ve been more inured to thinking than exercised in 
literary composition. He was the author of another published 
treatise, the title of which is : Some Eemarks upon the claims 
and doings of the Consociation [, etc]. It was one of the mul- 
titude of ' Narratives,' with dissertations, called forth by the cir- 
cumstances attending the ordination of the 'Rev. Dr. Dana, at 
Wallingford, in 1758. If from perusal of the first mentioned 
pamphlet, and from conversations respecting Mr Bartholomew, 
had with the aged here who remembered him, were received cor- 
rect impressions as to his theology, the tone of it was by no 
means too rigid. His character may be indicated by saying : 
While he "saw that wisdom excelleth folly," and said of pru- 
dence, " My soul followeth hard after thee," yet he loved also 

^i'He is said, on his return from a journey, made in the early part of his connec- 
tion with Harwinton, to have related the incident, and the compliment referred to, 
with an appropriate satisfaction : 

While one day, in a place at some distance from Harwinton, ridmg on horseback, 
as was the style then, a lady, journeying by the like mode of conveyance, having 
overtaken him, and entered freely into conversation with him, and found, though 
she knew not whom she was talking with, that he belonged to Harwinton, imme- 
diately rejoined, " Well, the Harwinton minister, tlicy say, is an exTRAOKDwary 
ordinary man." 



63 

what he regarded as truth ; and, aiming to be right in all things, 
on points of Christian doctrine which arc vital he was deemed 
to be sound. , 

Previously to the last year or two of Mr. Bartholomew's min- 
istry, the temporal business connected with the support of relig- 
ious institutions here was, though not in the best smse, a 'public 
concern.' At first it was attended to by the inhabitants casually 
gathered or ' mot in convention.' After the incorporation of the 
^''own it was transacted, with the municipal concerns generally, 
by 'the voters in Town Meeting assembled;' and so the record 
of it, if made anywhere, was made in ' the Town Book.' Such 
a custom, as viewed now, is unseemly. " The things that are 
God's" mixed up with " the things that are Cesar's," we look on 
as a jumble. Incongruous, almost in every respect undesirable, 
still such was the usage which formerly was general in New 
Englantl. In Harwinton after the Ecclesiastical Society* had 
been formed some ten or twelve years and meantime had, i'or 
aught that ai>pcars to the contrary, done its proper work reason- 
ably well, the old metliod seemed to many pei-sons to be the 
better one. These had so long been habituated to it, that they 
wouM have it, if possible, again. A Town Meeting to act on 
the matter was called, when it ajipeared that the earnestness of 
their efforts was greater tlian their success.f 

THK ShX'OND I'ASTOU. 

There was appointed, 2 Feb., 1771, a " ('oniniitttv to Call in 
an Ordaining Counsel to Settle M' David Pony In the work of 
the Ministry In this Town on the 15th Day of InsUuit February 
1774.'':{: On that day the Council met and he wa.^ ordained. >$ 
The vi\\\ he had rcceiverl to become a pastor here, was given tci 
him more than three month's before Mr. Bartholomew's dismis- 
sion. His ordination occurred in Ic.^sthan three weeks after Mr. 



♦The namo has boon changed. — //anri«''>'» F>><i ,<iviV/y /fcv.i- of ffecorda Km ' 
2G</i, 1772, is iiiscriVHjd in its Kirst Book. . 
f Harwinton Rt-cord.s, B<x>k III. 
^ Kctlcsia.stical Society Rcconis, Book I. 
gCljurch Uocord.'s Book I. 



64 

Bartholomew's dismissioD. A like call made within a year pre- 
viously to two other gentlemen, both had declined to accept. 
Why these declined is not apparent. That Mr. Perry was un- 
willing to be a colleague with Mr. Bartholomew seems manifest. 
The unwillingness was not without its reason. "Can two walk 
together, except they be agreed?" The 'half-way covenant' 
practice was here. It was known to be at variance with that 
which the earliest Churches of New England had followed.* 
Let persons not scandalous in their lives but profess, in a wa}^ 
ready to hand, a speculative or historical assent to Christianity ; 
then solely on the ground of that profession, the rite of baptism 
should be administered to their children. Mr. Bartholomew had 
strenuously defended this practice. " And it shall be, as with the 
people, so with the priest." The result was, there pertained to 
the Church individuals not a few that might have been termed 
' lobby members,' persons attached about it rather than admitted 
into it, excrescences adhering to it, not ingredients, not "cornel}'' 
parts." Among these, unless their peculiar ' profession ' should 
be excepted, a form submitted to avowedly " for the sake of 
advantage," there was not, generally, found even so much as 
'pretension to piety.' Such was the condition of things which 
the new pastor had to meet. The cause of it he discerned, and 
sought at the outset to remove. If, when Mr. Perry was induc- 
ted into office, there was between him and his people, an ' im- 
plied understanding ' that he would not forbid to be brought to 
baptism children whose parents sustained towards the Church 
relations of the equivocal sort that has been described ; so there 
was an ' express agreement' to the effect that he might by his 
preaching and in other persuasory methods show to such parents, 
and to whom else he would, that those relations were wrong.f 
' The articles of stipulation,' designed to be " an end of all strife," 
proved to be only a ''i^lan of union ;' for the sequel showed that 
the people's attachment to their preferences was not less strong 
than the pastor's suasory power, and that his views were capable 
of modification in a way that tended little to unite him and them 

*See, in Appendix, Note FF. 

f Ecclesiastical Society Records, Book I. 



65 

in ' bands of harmony.' When the time came that, acting con- 
scientiously, he could no longer apply the baptismal ordinance 
to the infant offsj)ring of non-communicants, he told them so. 
By what he said, he stood. Then was trouble both to him and 
to them. 'The covenant-owners' considered him to have be- 
come a ' covenant-breaker.' The matter was by them stated and 
acted upon thus : 

'IS Sept., 1778.. . .tliore is ;i difficulty Arose in tlic Society by Reasun 
of tlie Rev"' M' David Furry Refusing to Baptise Cliildron of those par- 
ents who wore in Covenant when s"* Rev'' Mr Perry Ordained in the 
work of tlie Ministry 

Votpd it is the Minds of the Society that the Rev"* Mr David Perry is 
holden by a Covenant he has made with liis People to Baptise the Chil- 
dren of those person who was in Covenant when the Rev"* ^^r Perrv 
was Ordained and Look upon it the Duty of the Rev** Mr Perrv to 
do the Same* 

Then "the fire burned ;" for in the records of the Church, as well 
as in those above cited from, is shown that there were here very 
inllammablc and combustible things. Details need not be given. 
The gist of tlic matter is that error and truth were in conflict, 
and by such persons as, mistaking the former for the latter, did 
battle for error as if it had been truth, 'the irrepressible conlhct' 
was made the more severe. Councils and Consociations, Refer- 
ences, Associations, trials, examinations, censures, exconnnuni- 
cation.s, were, in a long series, the order or disorder of the day. 
The general state of things was a sad one, though, throughout 
the whole of this great moral storm, a certain preparation was 
making — not only for the return of bright hours, but — for the 
coming of even better seasons than had a.s yet been ex{)ericneed 
here. These, as a thing of course, the pastor was not to tarry to 
behold. The first considerable lull in the strife mav have ajv 
pcared at his dismission which occurred, in concurrence with 
advice of other churche.<«, 23 Dec, 1783. f 

*F}cclc8ia8tical Society Rocord<», Book I. 

f PrccodiiiK pastoral ilianpps Iif>ro in siihflofnicnt times, tlicrc Imvo bwn conflicts 
of inlorcst ami of fooling from which a 'larpo nmonnt of iiont' wa.s evolve*!, and in 
which moa.surc8 were employed such as, on review, jx)uld not be pronounced right. 
Of those controversioa, as well a.s of that in Mr. Perry's day, the particulars would 
have lKH?n Aimisheil, hatl there l)eon a reasonable prospect affonlod that the presen- 

9 



66 

After the termination of his labors in this Church, the Eev. 
Mr. Perry was settled, the second pastor there, in Eichmond, 
Ms., 25 Aug., 1784. From that relation, in which he was both 
happy and successful, he was dismissed, 1 Jan., 1816. He died 
there, 7 June, 1816, '*at the age of seventy-one years." 

Mr. Perry was born at Stratford (, Huntington), in 1745, and 
graduated at Yale College in 1772. Where or with whom he 
pursued the study of theology, does not appear. In manners 
pleasant, his mien, the aged (in 1837) said, was prepossessing. 
His person was portly. Those who knew him here, represent 
him as having been familiar in the style of his preaching, but 
earnest and pungent, and strenuous in insisting on those cardi- 
nal scriptural truths which are more or less accurately embodied 
in what has for some centuries past been denominated Calvinism. 
He seems, like Paul, to have said, in reference to every thing 
righteously permissible, " I am made all things to all men, that 
I might by all means save some;" and, equally like Paul, to 
have said, in reference to any thing not righteously permissible, 
"We gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the 
truth of the gospel might continue with you." Though, for a 
season, the proper warmth of kind affections towards him was 
diminished, and the improper warmth of unkind affections to- 
wards him was increased ; though the prescriptions of courtesy 
and the requisitions of Christianity were alike disregarded when, 
in respect to him, bitter words instead of sweet ones were spo- 
ken, and the promised means of living were withheld ; yet it at 
last appeared, that he had secured from many of the peoj)le their 
permanent esteem, so that, on his removal to the sphere of an 
easier work that invited him, he took from them "a letter of Re- 
commendation to other Churches."* This, certainly, did not, at 
one time, appear a thing likely to be done. And yet, why 

tatiou of such items would be likely to have, for readers in general, a sufficient pre- 
ponderance of good. The fact that means for exhibiting such details are furnisha- 
ble will, with thoughtful minds, serve to hold iu check those tendencies from which 
come wrong contests and wrong methods of carrying on right contests. Indeed 
all men should at all times remember that there is appointed for them, in a future 
life, an impartial investigation which "shall try every man's work, of what sort it 
is." 
*Church Records, Book I.; under date of 21 April, 1*784. 



(57 

should one wonder that it was done? It had become to liis 
hearers beyond questioning, that his leading motto was, " I seek 
not yours, but you ;" that when he called out to them as a " son 
of tiiundcr," it was to awaken only salutary terror; and that 
when he did "rebuke with all authority," the severest lacerations 
of mind which he made showed that "fiiithful arc the wounds 
of a friend." As wc look back to Mr. Perry's ministry in llar- 
winton, through the light that its consequences after unfolding 
f(jt more than two generations throw back upon it, we see that, 
notwithsUmding the turbulence that attended it, the, for those 
days, premature close to which it came, and even the division 
that followed it, his ministry here was, in its main character and 
abiding results, eminently a successful one; since by him, under 
God's supervision, wa.s laid a foundation for that peculiar degree 
of prosperity " in spiritual things " which has, in later times, been 
experienced here. Such a benignant issue may ever be expected 
to pastoral labors respecting which, while they perform them, 
other ministers, like the apostle with his fellow- workers, can say 
tr\dy, " Commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the 
sight of God."* 

Before Mr. Perry's pastorate in llarwinton had closed, there 
sprang up in the Town a 'Separate' Congregational Society 
or Church. Exclusive of children, and a very few other per- 
sons, it may be ; that Church and that Society were, probably, 
the .same individuals viewed as in diiVerent relation.^. A little 
later, the preachings, or at least the meetings, of Baptists were 
attended here. Wiiat is known of these operations, is the fol- 
lowing : 

ll.irwinfi.n Oclol/ AD 1783 

1 John Bnioker profess myself to bo A Strict Congror^ationel 

John Brookerf 



♦l/oiig after tho remarks a»K)ve presented wore written, their wriUr first saw tlie 
notice following: 

" Tho n-liK'ious cliaraotor of Mr. Porr)' was such as to fiiniisli a briRht exjimplo 
to every gfwptl minister. IIo was t-mineut for his cxprcssfitins and daily exhibitions 
of pii-ty, and eminently devoted and lUilhfiil as a minister of ChriHt."— History of 
the County of Berkshire, Ma-ssacliusflls. 

fHo was lx>rn at Snybrook, abo\it 1750. "John Brooker, son© of John A .Sarali 
Brooker. was born y 2l8t of July, .\nno Homini, 1718."— Reeords of Saybrook 
CL, inN. K. His. God. Reg. 



68 

Tliese may Certify that the above Signer hatli attended the Strict 

Congregation* Meeting the Year past 

James Bacon Elder 
Rec"* the above for Record Octob' 1783 

Test Nath' Bnll, then Society Clerk 

Harwinton April 23'' 1785 

Jacob Catling for Various Reasons him moving thereto hath Conformed 
himself to the Society Called Separtes* in this town & made Declara- 
tion that he is of that perswasion 

Dan' Catlin Jun' Clerk 

Harwin ton September 5th 1785 

This may Certify that Timothy Catlin has Constantly attended on the 
Seperate* Baptist Meeting in Harwinton & Communicated of his Sub- 
stance to the Support of those that preach the Gospel for near two years 
Last past 

Certifyed by Sam' Meacham ) Members 
Dan" Sherman J of s** Meeting 
The above is a true Copy of the original 

Test Dan' Catlin Clerkf 

The blending of tlie two denominational names, in the last 
quoted Certificate, is an indication that, in this place as in seve- 
ral other places some, who at first became Separatists, afterwards 
became Baptists. These may have coalesced with the Baptists 
who once were at Burlington, or with those whose organization 
longer remained in New Hartford. Most or all of those sece- 
ders who stopped short of the second variation, are believed to 
have returned to their original connection. 

As nearly related to the pastorate of Mr. Perry in Harwinton, 
there is to be noticed another movement in which a larger num- 
ber of persons engaged. That ' sore,' in our body ecclesiastical 
which Mr. Perry had found, and which by his clerical 'surgery, ' 
necessary and kind though severe, had indeed been very thor- 
oughly 'probed,' was not of the sort that are said to 'heal by 
the first intention.' Hurts in such bodies often exhibit, before 
the remedy prevails, such phenomena as, in bodies human, are 
presented by ' gunshot wounds.' While he remained here, there 
was ' much swelling inwardly' with palpable ' throbs.' After he 
withdrew hence, there was 'external discharge' with 'fracture' 
extensively visible. His next successor in the pastoral office 

*See, in Appendix, Note GG. 
•{-Ecclesiastical Society Records, Book I. 



no 

here when he, thirty years after the occurrence, referred to this 
same thing, spoke of it as " a forniiaable schism." " M« tc lh:in 
one fourth of the inhabitants,"* then in llarwinton, left their 
connection with its origin:il rehgious Society. In that number 
were males, part or all of whom had been members of the Con- 
gregational Church, forty-six persons who, by Certificates, were 
set "forth as being, 26 May, 1784,t Episcopalians. For their 
worship according to the method of that denomination, there 
was, sometime afterward, erected an edifice which stood a few 
rods due south of the Congregational one. As prominent indi- 
viduals in that Society have been mentioned Alexander Allbrd, 
Luman Bishop, Lt. Levi Munson, Mark Prindle, Capt. Kzeldel 
ScQville. There ministered to that Society, ministering at the 
same time to other Societies in the vicinity, Rev. Ashbel Bald- 
win, Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, D.D. (, afterwards bishop 
of the ' eastern diocese ' formerly existing). Rev. Frederick llol- 
comb, D.D., Rev. [James?] Nichols, Rev Roger Searle. Dr. 
Ilolcomb ceased to ofBciate in llarwinton, for the fii-st time, in 
1820. About the .same period, the Church building which that 
Society had used was subjected to demolition, and a portion of 
the materials were employed in the construction of a small hou.se 
of worship, occupied by Ba})tists and ^fcthodists which, in 1838, 
underwent a recon.struction at Bakerville (, New Hartford). 
Since worship afler the Episcopal method was commenced in 
the .structure erected (above the Town Hall) in 1840, the min- 
isters here of that denomination have been, successively, Rev. 
Messrs. Frederick Ilolcomb, D.D., Henry Zell, William H. Fris- 
bie, U. V. Gardner, Timothy Wilcoxson, Orrin Jlolconib, .lames 
Morton. The latter gentleman, though resident still in llarwin- 
t(.n, has for the last few years preached in I'lymouth (East 
Church), and the Epi.scopal church edifice here has been clased. 

TlIK TinUI) I'ASTOU. 

Between the removal of the .second Congregationalist pastor 
and the induction of his next onicial sil-.-.c^mi- h.r.-, s.>v.ral 
years intervened. 

•Religioiia Intelligcncor, II April, 1818. 
f Ecclosiastionl Society Rcconls, Bo«>k I. 



70 

6 Dec, 1784. A committee of tlie Society were directed to 
" apply to Mr. Alexander to Supply the Pulput the insuing Win- 
ter."* It is probable, that he had been doing that service dur- 
ing the preceding summer and autumn, and that he continued 
doing it through the greater part of the subsequent year. One 
cannot, except by that supposition, account either for the third 
pastor's statement,f that Mr. Alexander preached here " a few 
years afterwards," i. e. after the second pastor's exit hence, or 
for the impression which others have had, that Mr. Alexander 
preached here "nearly three years." The true account may be, 
that his ministerial labors in Harwinton extended through a 
large portion of the year 1784, through either the whole or the 
largest part of the year 1785, and into the beginning, j^erhaps^ 
of the year 1786. The Eev. Caleb Alexander, after being at 
New Marlborough, Ms., its second pastor sixteen months precise- 
ly, a not long pastorate now, sljort to a prodigy then, had been 
dismissed thence in consequence of much the same thing as oc- 
casioned the dismission of Ilarwinton's second pastor, — leading 
the Church, as before his induction there he did, to abandon 
their ' half-way covenant ' practices.:]; Having left New Marl- 
borough in June, 1782, and having been installed at Mendon, 
Ms., in March, 1786, he may have ministered here as has above 
been indicated. Whatever was the time of his stay in Harwin- 
ton, his ministrations here were such as were then needed, such 
as his character and his previous experience had fitted him to 
give, and such in their influence as God deigned to bless ; the 
appropriate " work of an evangelist." The third pastor in Har- 
winton, writing in 1790, says of him: "It appears, that by the 
Assistance of the Eev'd Caleb Alexander^ the Church became 
more harmonious and united by the different parties making a 
degree of mutual Concessions to each other — especially [was con- 
cession made] on the side of the Excommunicated. And a wri- 
ting was formed — upon the subscribing of which all the excom- 
municated who were not then present might again be admitted 

♦Ecclesiastical Society Records, Book I. 
•j-Cliurcli Records, Book IT. 
^History of Western Massachusetts. 
§Seo, in Appendix, Note D.D. 



71 

to a good standing in tlio Church — of which but low refused to 
avail tlicmsolves. Henceforward tlic Church l^ecamc so united 
as to apply to several Candidates* to preach witii them, with a 
View to their Settlement over them."f 

5 March, 1787. The fnllowiiif^j votes passoil. To make rro|>(jsaIs 
of Settlemont to M' Lemuel Tyler J etc. etc.§ [Whether the Church 
concurred in this action of the Society, is not manifest. The vote cited 
implies that Mr. Tyler had preached here for a considerahlo time. The 
period was, |irohablv, nearly or quite a year.] 

25 Feb., 1788. Voted That this meeting is AVillin^' to Settle Mr 
Rowland. § [It does not appear that the Church took any action concur- 
ring with this expression. During nearly one year preceding, Mr. Kow- 
laiicl, prol)al)ly, preached here.] 

'2'^ April, 1788. Voted This Society Proceed to make proposals of 
Settlement to Mr. Rowland. § | [It doe.«! not appear that, with this more 
decisive expression, any action l»y the Church was in concurrence.] 

9 April, 1789. Voted to Give M' Aaron C. CollinsJ an Invitation 
To Settle With us in the Ministry in this place, etc.§ [The'Church by 
their.=;, not effectually, it seems, concurred with this vote of the Society. 
Ry this vote, aa comiected with other circumstances known respecting 
Mr. Collins, it appears that he, too, had ofliciated in Ilarwinton for seve- 
ral months preceding.] 

12 A\ig., 1789. Voted the Committee npply to Mr White| to sup- 
ply the pulpit.§ [(^ne finds not, b}- record, whether Mr. AVhite did suj)- 
j)Iy the pulpit. If lie did, it was for only a few Sabbatli.s. The aged 
who were here in 1837, of him said nothing.] 

In the six or seven years thus barely touched uj)oii, tlierc 
must have been, to a thoughtful and good man resident, liorc, 
many hours, if not days and months besides, in which his lieart 
felt sad. However brightly above him shone the sun, or amund 
him waved the green growing graas and the yellow ripened 

♦Since, along witli thoso U8a>,'ca wliich gave occasion for tlio employment of Uio 
word 'candidate,' with reference to parocliiul ooncenis, tlio word itself, as to giicli 
a reference, i.«, in New Kiiglaml, so rapidly l)as.'^in^,' away llial it intist soon Ik) ob- 
Holeto entirely, in parisli vo<«al>ularioa ; there properly might in this connexion bo 
fumisiied a Note explaining tlie wnnl lor the Itenefit, |x>Bsibly, of fuliiro itarish his- 
torians and 'p.iiiil'id miliipiarians' generally. There i.x, however, entertained (veu- 
turoiiHly, porhap!*,) the ho|H5 th.it, for some few ye:irs l«i come, inquisitive people 
may, on this, enlighten tliemsclves snfllciently by mrefully consulting tijo memory 
of such aged persons as can bo reliod upon for nxvUcetiug with prmsiou. 

fCliurch Uiconlx, Book II. 

^Soe, in Apjiendix, Note I)D. 

§Eccle8ia!«tical Society Records, Book 1. 



72 

grain, yet, as to the moral state of Harwinton, there were scenes, 
indeed dark and drear, on either hand. In respect to matters 
directly affecting man's highest concerns, all around him, and 
haply within himself, too, he saw great cause for grief. Espec* 
ially, if such a man was then at the head of a household the 
children of which already were, or soon would be, in the most 
formative period of their life, he could not refrain from asking 
even with anguish, when and in what would end the existing 
lamentable things. Yet to come after the dark of that night, 
there was predestined a day that at length gave signs of its dawn ; 
and to banish the drear of that winter, there drew nearer every 
minute the longed-for spring. The moral revolution that for a 
ten years' space wrought and progressed by battles, in the six 
years' time thereto succeeding laid even its skirmishing by, and 
through 2:)eaceful methods perfected and established the victory 
it had gained. Sixteen years are not ill spent, when in such a 
period are well removed the evils that, by nearly forty years in- 
dulgence and defence, have, as reputedly good things, been made 
strong. By Mr. Alexander chiefly, indeed, but in some degree 
by the others who after him ministered here for a season, were 
labors done the effect of which, as of the pioneering work of 
our Savior's harbinger, had been "to turn the hearts of the fa- 
thers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the 
just; to make ready a people preparecZ /or the LorcV Than a 
2:)reparation for him, none is better for a pastor whom he sends. 
Not here only had there been preparation. That which the 
people had been fitly prepared for, had been fitly prepared for 
them. 

28 Dec, 1789. Voted Rev"* M' Joshua Williams [an] invitation To 
Settle With us in the Minstry in this Place.* 

Mr. Williams, whose preaching began with approbation from 

"the Hartford South Association "f received the same month 

(, Oct., 1782,f) in which a pastor of the Presbyterian Church in 

Southampton, L. I., died,:}: was in that place ordained niid in- 

*Ecclesiastical Society Records, Book I. 
f MS. Autobiographical Sketch of Mr. Wllhams. 

^Journal Book of the Proceedings of the first Church of CHRIST, Southampton, 
January 1'' 1785. This Journal, now in possession of Mrs. Oriuda Catlin, of Har- 



73 

stalled by the SufTolk: Presbytery, as pafltor the fourth or lilth 
there in siicecssidn, 20 May, 1785.* During the first year of 
his pastorate in that Church, forty-two persons were added to its 
number.* lie also performed an evangelist's work successful Iv, 
while pastor at Southampton, and so, as he expressed it, he "was 
made an instrument of good by circularf preaching on the Isl- 
and.":}: At his own request, his pastoral relation in Southamp- 
ton was sundered by the Suffolk Presbytery, 21§ April, 1789.:}: 
lie was qualified, by the experience he had gained, for the w(^rk 
greater and more successful, as it proved, which here awaited 
his installation. "Previous to this, it was thought proper that 
the Church should renew their Profession and their public Cov- 
enant with each other."!] Such " Profession and Covenant," — 
in substance identical with the (" Articles of Faith," the) "Con- 
fession of Faith," and the "Covenant," since used here, — "was 
agreed uj)on, at a Church Meeting, on the 15th of February, 
1790, and signed by the" members of the Church; "and [the 
same], on the Day of the Fast preceding the installation, was 
publicly read and solemnly agreed to, — each Member prescin. 
standing up."|| There was, at the same time and in the same 
manner, "publicly read and solemnly agreed to," an engagement 
which .seemed to be as scriptural as, explicitly set forth, it may 
be found unusual, viz., "We also solemnly })romise, that we will 
not encourage among us any Speaker or Preacher of Whatever 
Denomination, by a.sking him to preach or going to hear him; 
unless he have the Countenance of our Watchman, or [we shall] 
have consulted and obtained Liberty from those whom we shall 
api)oint as helps and Officers in the Church."!] This engage- 

wiiitoii, a (laughter of Mr. Williams, conUiina in his chirog^phy, "Tho Confession 
of Faith and Covenant unanimously voted by thi.s [tho Southampton] Clnireli," on 
the evo of his .settlement there; ami embraces business accounts of hi.s the record 
of which wa.s kept simultaueously willi that of the '•Proceedings." — See, in Ap- 
|H.'udix, Note nil. 

^Journal Book, etc, as ia uoto next al)ove. 

f Itinerant. JM.S. Autobiopniphical Sketch of Mr. Williams. 

J^Prinio's History of Long Islnml. 

(Church Rrcords, Book II. 

10 



74 

ment, — "Article of" Practice, we may term it, adapted as well 
as adopted to make due 'works' attend "Faith," — is a rather 
significant suggestion, both of what 'the pastor elect' had else- 
where, and of what the flock ' elect ' had here, seen of the ' Sep- 
arates ' of that day. Those people were disorderly. ' Their 
ministers were generally of the order of Jeroboam,' it was af- 
firmed. Erratic as comets, rushing within the orbits, disturbing 
the "stars"; it could not always be easily said, that, when at 
the farthest aphelion to which they wandered, they owned the 
attraction of the great moral Sun.^ 

Having accepted the call which this Church and Society had 
unanimously given to him, Mr. Williams, " by the Consociation 
of Litchfield County, was installed over them, March 3d, 1790."t 
His pastorate was, for the most part, the equable motion of a 
stream with no cataract's plunge and roar. The events most no- 
ticeable in it are those which betokened a peculiar success in his 
work. These excepted, it had no incident of more consequence 
than the erection of another Church edifice. 

In the early part of Mr. Williams' ministry here, several of 
the founders of the Town, among them Dea. John Wilson and 
other original members of the Church, were still surviving. 
These, so long as their life was continued, had a natural satisfac- 
tion in seeing, and a spiritual pleasure in using, the temple that, 
like themselves, had belonged to former days. Their age, ma- 
king them forgetful of other things, kept them mindful of how 
they once were here without any temple, and of the painful pro- 
tracted endeavors by which they, with the rest of "your fathers," 
completed the first. In no other one could they become so at 
home. There was to be no other for them. The undertaking 
to build a second one was by this Society not attempted, it seems 
to have been not projected, until the last living of the first dwel- 
lers in Harwinton had passed away. Then the ancient one was 
in such a decayed condition as not to afford sufficient protection 
against either rain or snow, either the heat or the cold. Its hold- 
ing capacity was not large enough. Its attractive capability was 
too small. As to the worshippers, it did not meet their demand 

*See, in Appendix, Note GG. 
f Church Kecords, Book II. 



75 

for convenience, it did not satisfy their taste; while, m to the 
Object of their worship, it did not correspond to what, in their 
view, the proprieties of his service by a congregation required. 
The primitive structure had well answered the primitive design.* 
It must, as being superannuated, be superseded. The Commit- 
tee, with whom the Society, in 1807, entrusted the work of su- 
perintending the erection of a new structure, were Messrs. David 
Candee, Isaac Cathn, Daniel Ilolt, John Ilungerford, Jonathan 
llossiter. Sen., Daniel S. \Vilson, Dea. Abncr Barber, Dr. Tim- 
othy Clark, with James Brace, Lewis Catlin, Sen., and Benjamin 
Griswold, Esqs. What was begun under fiivoring auspices, was 
haj)pily prosecuted and successfully finished. 

The existing temple, beautiful and commodious and hallowed 
by religious anticipations then, by religious remembrances now, 
was in 1808, near the end of that year, thankfully and with ser- 
vices appropriate to the occasion, set apart to the high end it 
was designed to advance — the honoring of God, through those 
assembled within it seeking to render due homage with obedi- 
ence to him. It cost about $8,000 (eight thousand dollars).f 
As such things are usually estimated, this outlay in a rural Town 
should be considered for that time, and might be for this, as gen- 
erous in amount. At least, a mind not illiberal would regard it 
as such. To some persons so great a sum, by such a Town to 
such a purjwse applied, would appear to be a needless and waste- 
ful expense. But how can any thing be needless, which helps 
best what all men need most? and how is any thing wasteful 
which is helpful thus? Wherever men having bodies would 
ofter social worship publicly, there accommodations suitable for 
their rendering it in that manner arc required. The importance 
of such accommodations is in proportion to the necessity for 
them. The benefits which experience shows to result from them, 

♦Wlien tho new building liad been corapletod, tho old ono, its gallery and pulpit 
and \HiWfi Uikcn out, was roinovetl to near tho South Durial-placo when?, as pre- 
viously said, it did service as ii Town House nndnthorwiso, until 1940. On its final 
dismemljennent, tliero were, however, found remaining in it some parts scr>iccable 
for entering into tho constniction of other buildiupt. A house having in ita frame 
what suggests so much would, to some persons, have special value. 

f Ecclesiastical Society Records, Book II., etc. 



76 

are ever more than any expense thej occasion. Omit reference 
to sncli influences as, from a temple which saints in it make a 
sanctuary, flow into the individual heart, ever prompting anew 
the utterance, "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of 
Hosts;" it still is true, that our choicest civil immunities, the 
most valued of human institutions, derive thence, as from a cit- 
adel, their firmest support. Omit, with those personal spiritual 
ones, these municipal and civil advantages, also; it still is true, 
that a sanctuary* — the Church building, set up for, and put to, 
and held to its proper use — always gives to any community more 
than it takes from that community. Even in a commercial use 
of the phrase, ' it is good property.' It is such, not only indi- 
rectly, by making other property ' safe ' through its effect in be- 
getting and upholding honesty ; but directly, too, by its very 
existence operating to add to what is called ' real ' estate more 
value than it subtracts from it. That this fact led to the reser- 
vation of two 'Town rights' for the support of the ministry in 
each of the townships made by the Legislature of Connecticut 
from their moiety of "the Western lands," or led other Ameri- 
can Legislatures to do the like, is not said. This fact shrewd 
builders of villages well know, and they act on the principle it 
suggests to them. An immediate effect of erecting the present 
Congregational Church edifice demonstrated it. As soon as this 
was finished, farms in Harwinton, so it was told, were marketa- 
bly worth one dollar per acre more than they were by the pre- 
vious appraisement ; yet the cost of its erection, had all the acres 
in town been taxed to provide the means for defraying it, would 
have been forty-four cents, plus a microscopic fraction, per acre. 
Facts like this retained in memory, funds for meeting the cur- 
rent expenses of an 'Ecclesiastical Society,' and for repairing or 
beautifying a Church building, would be readily furnished ; even 
at times when simply for duty's sake they might but reluctantly 
be given. 

Mr. Williams officiated in this newer structure more than two- 
thirds as long a time as he had officiated in the older one. For 
the period of an entire generation, " he was happy in the aflfec- 

*Saucta [soint] -area. 



77 

tions and confidence of" a large people prospering nndcr his min- 
istry. Tt was in his heart to die, as he had lived, with them ; 
but," in 1817, being then "at the age of fifty-six, [and] worn 
down by the labors of a revival [of religion], he was attacked 
by a disease which confined hini seventy-seven days to his house, 
and for several weeks raged so violently that each successive 
day was expected to be his last,"*f — occasioning, as one result, 
so much continued impairment of his constitutional vigor, as 
" rendered it proper that [he] should seek a dismission or a col- 
league."* lie, therefore, "petitioned for a release," and "a dis- 
mi.<:.sion took place, Jan' 9, 1822."* lie removed, in 1823, to 
Bethlem; and, in 1831, to Middletown (Upper Ilouses, now 
Cromwell). An invitation which he received, to become again 
a pastf)r, considerations regarding his health induced him to de- 
cline.* In the place hist specified he decca.sed, 8 Feb., 1836. 
The event, soon afterwards, was appropriately noticed in a .ser- 
mon delivered to this congregation by his .second succe.s.sor in 
the ])astorate here. 

Mr. Williams was born at Wethersfield (, Rocky Hill), 3 Feb., 
17»j1. lie graduated at Yale College, in 1780.:}: His autobiog- 
raphy is silent, as to theological studies. Of a stature not above 
the medium, he was in neither body nor mind massive, but in 
both agile. Confessedly a )nan not perfect in piety, his religion 
wxs sincere and, like his temperament, ardent. Ingenuous, his 
failings had one trait which relatively is almost a virtue, that 
they were neither from himself nor from other men concealed. 
If through sensitive feeling or otherwise he had wronged any 
one, with characteristic quickness he both saw and, at once, by 
due methods made due amends for the wrong. " His faith was 
Calvinistic; but it was not a mere form of doctrine for curious 
di.^quisition or subtile disputation. It wjus a living principle op- 



*Autobio^rapliy of the Rer. Joshua Williams, in MS. 

f Obituary NoUoo, in the Connecticut Observer, 5 M.arcb, 183C ; prcjiared by Rt»r. 
Xoab Porter, Son., D.P., of Karniin^ton. 

{At College his stuiUos were much intcrrujjtcU hy tiio events of that .stoniiful 
pcrioil. Not overrating bin 'literary ae(|uironienL<(,' ho rcasonalily expressed huni- 
ble vifwfl R'SiKH'ting them. 



78 

crating in his daily thouglits and feelings of action. It was 
taught him, as he supposed, the last year of his connection with 
College, not by men, but by the Spirit of God." " Mr. Williams 
was an instructive example of the good which may be done by 
the more private offices of the Christian ministry. His sermons 
were less interesting than they might have been, if he had given 
them more time and thought. lie may have erred in this. Still, 
his ministry was unspeakably more useful than has been that of 
many, whose sermons, painfully wrought out by prolonged la- 
bors of the closet, have called forth the applauses of delighted 
auditors, while the people of their charge have been left, in re- 
spect to pastoral care, as sheep having no shepherd. Often in 
every part of his parish, free and open-hearted in his addresses 
to persons of every age and class, affectionate, skilful, and often 
exceedingly pungent and powerful in his instructions, reproofs, 
and persuasions;" "he was directly instrumental in the awaken- 
ing and conversion of many, and very successful in carrying 
forward the members of his church in the unity of the faith and 
in habits of constant piety and usefulness."* As a Christian, 
he had been "much in prayer," and "an example of the believ- 
ers." As a minister of Christ, both in Southampton and in Har- 
winton "he had been wise to win souls." Though not distin- 
guished either as a scholar or [as] an orator, he was more than 

*Early in enlisting himself and his people in the missionary cause, he once re- 
marked (to his grandson, Hon. Abijah Catlin), "that he with the neighboring min- 
isters was the first in the world, so far as he knew, to set up and establish the 
Monthly Concert of Prayer that now prevails all over Christendom." A similar 
relation of their beginning that movement, as not aware that their fellow-Christians 
both in this country and elsewhere had equally begun it, various other persons have 
made. A like movement, from a like common impulse, originated in Scotland in 
1747, in England in about 1752. Such a movement, renewed in England not far 
from 1790, was again renewed there in 1816-20 and special efforts made to extend 
it through our land. In the Harwinton Church Records, Book II., is this entry : 
"February 27^'' 1815. Conversed on the Subject of a monthly prayer Meeting." 

When Mr. Wiliiams had become aged, he was 'not backward' as to reform. 
His Autobiography has this passage: "Jany 1829, I renounced Free-Masonry, 
fulling believing that I had done -wrong in uniting with it, tho' at the time I was 
deceitfully persuaded to it as a matter of duty. I must, I ought to confess, that I 
have found it an unchristian and deceptive institution. The same year also, I put 
m)"- name to the Temperance list." 



79 

either, "for he was a good man and full of faith and of the Holy 
Ghost; and much people was added unto the Lord."* 'Ac- 
count's,' respecting those years of his ministry here in which 
such additions were most numerously made, are the only printcdf 
productions known of his pen. 

THE FOURTH PASTOR. 

The Church Records;}: since Mr. Williams' time, arc ample. 
Many persons have in memory his successors in office here. 
Those successors are, in other places, still actively engaged in 
affairs. Of their work in Uarwinton, therefore, brief notices 
will suftice. 

Rev. George Edmond Pierce, D.D., was ''invited to preach t(j 
this church and people as a candidate for the Gospel ministry," 
in Feb., 1822. He was invited to become their pastor, in May, 
1822. lie was ordained to that office by the Litchfield South 
Consociation, 10 July, 1822. He was dismissed from it by the 
same Body, " at their Annual Meeting, at Watertown, [10] July, 
1834." 

Dr. Pierce, bom in Southbury (, South Britain parish), 9 Sept., 
1794, was graduated at Yale College, in 1816, and at Andover 
Theological Seminary, in 1821. He was Preceptor of the Acad- 
emy at Fairfield, Ct., in 1817 and 1818. He entered unon 
the duties of the Presidency of Western Reserve College, then 
but recently established at Hudson, O., 5 July, 1834. He re- 
mained in that position, until " the burdens of office, the failure 

♦Tlie quotations in the above paragrapli nro mainly from the Obitiinry Xotico, a 
quite extended one, before adverted to. 

f.Vn acfount of a Revival of Rclij,Hoii in Harwinton, Conn., in the yonr 1799; 
publislied in the Connecticut Kvnngolical Magazine, June, 1801. An .Vttxiunt of a 
Revival of Religion in Harwininn, Conn., in tho years 1805 and 1S06; published 
in the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, April, 1807. An account of a Revival of 
lieligion in Harwinton, Conn., in the year 1816; published in the Religious Intel- 
ligencer, April lull, 1818. — The narratives ptibli«)ied in the Connecticut Kvangeli- 
cal Magazine form with otliers, and with a Preface written by Uennet Tyler, D.D., 
New Kngland Revivals, a work issued in 1816 by the Massachusetts Sabbath School 
Society. 

^S«e, in Appendix, Kot« IIH. 



80 

of health, and the correct advice of the Medical Profession in- 
duced [him] to resign." His letter of resignation, dated 31 
May, 1855, took effect at the next following Commencement, 12 
July. After his resignation. President Pierce supplied the pul- 
pit in Hudson, 0., for nearly a year. Still residing in that place, 
he preaches occasionally, though he is mainly engaged in other 
employments. Of his printed productions the principal ones 
are : The Importance of Religious Knowledge, a sermon published 
in The American Evangelist, Boston, November, 1827 ; The 
Tears of Jesus, a sermon (whose title would have been The Com- 
passion of Christ, had its author's preference as to a name for it 
been adhered to), published in The American National Preacher, 
New York, April, 1833 ; A Report on the Study of the Bible 
and Christian Authors, instead of Heathen Classics, published, 
by request of the Trustees of Western Reserve College, in The 
Ohio Observer, Hudson, 0., 9 Oct., 1834; The Streams of the 
River of Life, a Sermon preached at the Dedication of the Chaj:)- 
el of Western Reserve College, August 23, 1836, published at 
New York, 1836; A Plea for Stability and Permanence in In- 
stitutions of Learning, delivered before the Trustees, Officers 
and Students of the Cleveland Medical College, February 26, 
1845, published, by request, at Cleveland, 0., 1845 ; An Address 
in Commemoration of the Serai-Centennial Anniversary of the 
Settlement of the town of Hudson, O., delivered 18 June, 1850, 
repeated 18 June, 1856, and, with the other Proceedings of the 
Fifty-Sixth An»iversary of the Settlement of Hudson [0.], pub- 
lished at Hudson, O., 1856 ; The Heavenly Throne, a Baccalau- 
reate Sermon, delivered in the Chapel of Western Reserve Col- 
lege, July 9, 1854, published at Hudson, 0., 1854. From Dr. 
Pierce appeared in the Ohio Observer, 10 July, 1840, and on, 
articles in defence and advocacy of the American Education So- 
ciety and of its principles ; in the New England Puritan, 1846, 
1847, articles "giving some historical, statistical and religious 
account of the Western Reserve;" and in the Independent, 23 
November, 1854, and on, communications, " over the signature 
of Prudential Committee and with their [viz., such Coamiittee's 
as connected with the institution named,] examination and ap- 



81 

proval, giving' in part the history of the Western Eeserve Col- 
lege, and also the principles on which a College is to be conduct- 
ed." It is understood that their author designs to publish those 
communications in a more permanent form, 

THE FIFTH PASTOK. 

The Congregational Society, 13 Oct., 1834, invited Mr. Wil- 
liam James Breed,* who had for some time preached here, "to 
return and preach a.s a Candidate for Settlement." lie did not 
so return. Following him a Rev. Mr, Church* supplied the pul- 
pit a few Sabbaths. 

Mr. R. Manning Chipman, whose first sermon here wa.s 
preached 14 Dec, 1834, was invited to become pastor of the 
Congregational Church, 26 Jan., 1835. lie was ordained and 
installed in that relation, 4 March, 1835, by the South Consocia- 
tion of Litchfield County. He wivs dismissed from it, by the 
same Body, 13 March, 1839. 

Richard >ranning Chipman, Jr., a native of Salem, Ms,, 
where still his father Richard Manning Chipman, Sen., re- 
sides, was gi-aduated at Dartmouth College, in 1832, He pur- 
sued professional studies in the Theological Seminary of the 
Presbyterian Church at Princeton, N. J., and in the Theological 
Department of the University of the City of New York, a De- 
])artment suspended from operation since the establishment, in 
that locality, of the Union Theological Seminary. In l(So3, 
1834, he was Corresponding Secretary of the American Peace 
Society and Editor of their Periodical, the Calumet, their office 
being' at that time in New York. He received approbation 
U) preach from the Litchfield South Association convened at 
Wa.shington, 20 Oct., 1834. He declined an invitation, given to 
him 27 June, 1839, to become Profes.sor of Theology in the 
Oi.rida Institute, at Whitesboro', N. Y., and a call, given to 
him 7 Julv, 1839, to be pastor of the Second Congregational 
Church in "(Old Well, now) Soutli Norwalk, Ct. He was in 
sUiUeil pastor of the Evangelical Congregational Church in 
Athol, Ms., 15 Aug., 1839 ; from which relation he was di.s- 

♦See, in Appendix, Note T>D. 
11 



82 

missed, 23 Dec, 1851. He was installed pastor of the Third 
Congregational Church in the borough of Guilford, Ct., 14 Jan., 
1852. His release from that position was obtained, 19 May, 
1858. Accepting an invitation " to discharge the duties of a 
pastor " to the First Congregational Church and Society in Wol- 
cottville, (, Torrington), Ct., he has discharged there such duties 
since 15 May, 1859 ; though, in accordance with his preference 
expressed, the formality of an installation has been waved. Of 
his writings, other than anonymous contributions in journals, 
have been published : A Discourse on the Nature and Means 
of Ecclesiastical Prosperity, delivered at the Dedication of the 
House of Worship in Terrysville, Ct., August 8th, 1838, — Hart- 
ford, 1839 ; A Discourse on Free Discussion, delivered in Har- 
winton, Ct., February 17th, 1839,— Hartford, 1839 ; A Discourse 
on the Maintenance of Moral Purity, delivered, 13 September 
1840, in the course of his ordinary pastoral instructions to the 
Evangelical Church and Society in Athol, Ms., — (in The Friend 
of Virtue,) Boston, 1841 ; Memoir of Eli Thorp, — (by the Mas- 
sachusetts Sabbath School Society,) Boston, 1842. 

During the fifth pastorate of this Church there were, as re- 
spects matters pertaining to public worship, some changes for the 
better introduced. The Society, 29 Oct., 1837 : 

Voted to Slip [put 'slips' into] the meeting house. 

That work, done in the winter following, occasioned a second 
beneficial innovation, — as expressed 19 March, 1838 : 

Resolved By this meeting that this Ecclesiastical Society Avill on tlie 
'I""^ Monday of April next procede to lease the slips in tlie meeting 
house for one year from the P' day of April [, etc.] 

Thus passed away, with the old pews,'^ the ancient custom of 
'dignifying' them and 'seating the Meeting-house ;'f and, at the 
same time, was commenced a different method of raising the 
means by wliich the cost of sustaining religious services is pro- 
vided. 

Within the same period, as also previously, there lived here 
a few individuals of .^the Methodist Episcopal Church. No 

*See, in Appendix, Note BB. 
fSee, in Appendix, Note AA. 



83 

oiXanization of them has here been effected. A young niinistcr 
of that denomination, for a few months before his decease resi- 
(h>nt but not officiating in llarwinton, Kev. Myron W. Peek, 
died 23 May, 1837. Amiable, devout, resigned; though di.sa))- 
pointed in his hope of spending years in the work he had cho- 
.sen, the hope itself showed that, as in Josiah, .so '' in him there 

was found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel." 

« 

THE SIXTH I'A.'^TOH. 

Rev. Charles Bentley was invited to become pastor of th<' 
Congregational Church, in the summer of 1839. The action of 
tlie Society to that effect was taken, 16 .lune, 1839. lie was 
duly installed in that rehuion, 11 Sept., 1839; and dismi.s.sed 
from it, 15 Jan., 18r)0. 

Mr. Bentley is a native of Tyringham, Ms. lie graduated at 
Amherst College, in 1824. He studied theology with Rev. Al- 
len McLean, of Sim.sburv. lie was ordained and in.stallcd jias- 
torof the Congregational Church in (Middle Iladdam.) Chatham, 
16 Feb., 1826; and dismissed thence, 22 May, 1833 He was 
installed pastor of the Congregational Church at (Salmon Brook.) 
(jranby, in Aug., 1833; and dismissed thence, in April, 1.S39. 
lie was installed at (Greens Farms,) Fairfield, 22 May, 1850 ; 
and dismissed thence, 18 May, 1858. lie was installed pastor 
of the Congregational Church at (West^ Willington. 27 Oct.. 
1858. 

In 1843, the galleries in the Congregational Church ediliee 
were made lower, the 'sittings' in them differently arranged, and 
those in the Choir gallery brought farther forward: while the 
arch in the ceiling ceased to be, and the stately but too elevated 
j)nlpit gave way to one which quite as well answers a pulpit's 
especial design. These changes in its interior, if they have not 
added to the architectural effect, have increased the convenience, 
of the building. Although of those worshipping in it .some can 
easily remember when it was reared, and can as ciusily rccal the 
time when with those of a former generation they worshipped 
in the older one; yet thi.s, too, has about it now that venerablc- 
ncss which a religious use long-continued gives; and, preserved 



84 

well in the future, as it has been in the past, may it, touched 
softly by the hand of time, remain yet many years, undefaced, 
cherished, loved, " the house of God " and " the gate of heaven." 
As before referred to, in 1840 the Town erected a Ilall above 
which the Episcopal Society constructed an edifice for worship. 
The renewed ministrations in Harwinton of Eev. Frederick 
Holcomb, D.D., of Watertown, were contributive to the prose- 
cution of that design. • 

THE SEVENTH PASTOE. 

Eev. Warren G. Jones was installed pastor of the Congrega- 
tional Church, 3 Oct., 1850; from which relation he was dis- 
missed, 7 June, 1853. 

Mr. Jones, bom at (Millington,) East Haddam, graduated at 
Union College, 1831. Having studied a year and a half at the 
Theological Seminary in Princeton, N. J., he finished his profes- 
sional preparation under the care of the Second Presbytery of 
Philadelphia, Pa., and by that body, a licentiate of which he 
became 6 June, 1833, he was ordained and installed pastor of 
the Drawyers (Presbyterian,) Church, in St. George's Hundred, 
New Castle Co., Del., 20 Nov., 1833. After three years, his 
pastorate Inhere was terminated by dismission. He was installed 
pastor of the Congregational Church in South Glastenbur}^, Ct., 
26 Jul}^, 1837, and dismissed thence, 27 Aug., 1850. He com- 
menced, 1 May, 1853, the enterprise which resulted in the for- 
mation of the Market Street (Congregational) Church in Hart- 
ford. His labors in that relation were relinquished, 1 April, 
1858. He resides in Hartford still ; officiating, since 1859, in 
the Second Congregational Church in Manchester. Writings of 
Mr. Jones published, otherwise than in journals, are: Piety 
Honored after Death, a sermon preached on occasion of the 
death of Pardon Brown, Esq., a Deacon in the Congregational 
Church in South Glastenbury ; A Correct Account of the Dis- 
cussion held in the Meeting House of the Congregational Church 
in South Glastenbury, Jan. 30 and 31, 1850, between the Pastor 
of that Church and Elder Joseph Turner, on the Immortality of 
the Soul ; Assured Hope, a sermon occasioned by the death of 
Truman Kellogg [, Esq.], at Harwinton. 



85 

THK EIGIITir PASTOR. 

Kev. Jacob Uerritt Miller was installed pastor of the ('i>u<^u:- 
gational Church, 13 July, 1854. lie was dismissed from that 
relation, 11 May, 1857. 

Mr. Miller, a native of Sandlake, N. Y., graduated at Wil- 
liams College, 1848, and at the Theological Seminary, vVuljuni, 
N. Y., 1851. He was ordained as an evangelist by the Presby- 
tery of Troy, N. Y., at Whitehall in that State, 13 Dee., 1852. 
After his dismission from Ilarwinton, he ministered to the Pres- 
byterian congregation at Green Island (near Troy), N. Y. lie 
was installed, colleague pastor of the Congregational Church in 
Branford, Ct., 20 Oct., 1859. 

THE NINTH PASTOR. 

Rev. John Alexander McKinstry was installed jiastor of the 
Congregational Church here, 1 Oct., 1857. 

Mr. McKinstry, born at Chicopce (, thena })artof Sj)nMgtield), 
Ms., a graduate of Amherst College, 1838, and of the Theologic-al 
Institute, East Windsor, Ct., 1841, had been ordained and installed 
pastor of the Congregational Church in Torrington (parish, Tor- 
rington) 5 Oct., 1842, and dismissed thence, 28 Se])t., 1857. 

"And the prophets, ?'' Of the nine persons, successively 

pjustors of the Congregational Church in Ilarwinton duriu"- the 
one hundred and twenty-two years of its existence, all, except 
him who now su.stains to it that relation, have been separated 
from it by dismission. All of those dismis.scd hence, the first 
excepted, have subsequently to that event performed the stated 
work of ministers, most of them as once or oftener pastcu-s, to 
other congregations. Of this number, el.<ewhere as in Ilarwin- 
ton successful in their ministrations to a degree requirino- of 
them gratitude to God, all, the two eldest excepted, are still liv- 
ing and working. Of the three deceased ones, the first wius 
freed from his pastorate, before he died in Ilarwinton ; the sec- 
ond, from his with another people, before he died in their Town ; 
the third, after his pastoral relation here cea.sed, did not form 
such a connection again. Just the incumbent omitted, of onlv 
the two first among the nine, though all of them have been par- 



86 

ents, are there any descendants who at the present time are resi- 
idents here ; and to these descendants, comprised mainly in two 
households, pertain other surnames. 

DEACONS. 

The persons whose names follow, the first date adjoined to 
each denoting the year of election, were in succession chosen to 
and have sustained the relation of deacon in the Congregational 
Church : Jacob Benton, Sen., 1738 ; Daniel Phelps, 2d, 1738 ; 
Capt. John Wilson, Jr.,* 1760, died 12 Dec, 1799; Daniel Cat- 
lin, Sen., 1779; died 25 Aug., 1795; Maj. Cyprian Webster, 
Jr., 1793, died 14 April, 1809; Daniel Catlin, Jr., Esq., 1795, 
died 8 July, 1804 ; Col. Abner Barber, 1802, died 30 Nov., 
1815; Noadiah Hart, 1802, removed from Town; Benjamin 
Griswold, Esq., 1804, died 14 July, 1827; Enos Frisbie, Sen. 
1809, died 4 April, 1829 ; Benjamin Cathn, 1814, died 11 July, 
1835; Eichard Bristol, 1820, removed from Town, 1838 ; Minor 
Smith, 1829, died 10 Aug., 1832 ; Norman Wilson, 1832, died 
27 Aug., 1841 ; Jonathan Balch, 1835 ; Samuel Wilson, Sen., 
1841 ; Wyllys Clark, 1841 ; Hart Barker, 1847. 

May 24th, 1838. [The Church] met according to adjonnnnent ; 
and, taking into consideration the matter of choosing a deacon, 

Voted, that we will choose a deacon, to continue in office the term of 
ten years. 

The present deacons having expressed a wish to have their term of 
office [placed] on the same footing as [that of] the deacons to be chosen ; 
the brethren concurred in such an arrangement, having previously ex- 
pressed by uphfted hands their ^manimous desire to have the existing 
deacons retain their offices until that extent of time may have come.f 

The "extent" was subsequently reduced to five years. Of 
course the figures suffixed to the names of Messrs. Balch, (ex- 
deacon as on his own application dismissed,) Wilson, Clark, 
Barker, (present incumbents,) specify the times when these were 
first chosen. The other gentlemen are deceased. Such were 
their works, such was their characters, such influence from them 



*IIis father held the same office in Wrndsor Churcli. Deed in Ilai'.nnton Rec- 
ords, Book I. 
•{■Church Records, Book III. 



67 

is still perceptible, as to make tbc apostolic words tlieir appro- 
))riatc iiU'inorial : "Tlioy that have used the ofTicc of ;i deaef)ii 
well."' 



C H A P T E R T \' 



DIVINK WORDS AND STATUTES 
TAKE HOLD. 

The earliest dwellers in Ilarwintoii did not come hither in 
vain. The Town and the Chureh which, Providence favoring 
them, they esUiblished, still bear and always will bear an im- 
press which they gave. In the clVects of the work which they 
wrought are monuments, all around those who now dwell here, 
of their euteri^rise and their energy, of their wisdom and zeal 
and love. Inlluences which emanated from them come on you 
every day. You should be as ready to imitate their character, 
in whatever excellence it had, as you are to revere their memory. 
So much, in respect to them, remains ; but themselves " your 
fathers, where are they ?" That one of the first comers hither 
who lived the longest, not many now alive saw. lie that died 
the last of tlieir number was buried about the time when the 
present century begun. Indeed, the years now are not few 
since, from the soil which they broke to the plough, their chil- 
dren, too, have all passed away.* Of the fair and fruitful 
fields which they once tilled, the beauty is seen by the eyes, and 
the harvest is reaped by the hands, of the children of their chil- 
dren's children. Useful as sad are the thoughts?, *' Your fathers, 
where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever?'' In 
their frailty, as in a mirror, is seen our own. Yet, surely, it is 
not less useful to hear that voice which invites ua to connect 
.such humbling reflections on man's weakne.>NS, with consoling re- 
membrances of God's strength : " All flesh is as grass, and all 
the glory of man as the flower <>f the field, but the word of the 
Loud endureth forever; and this is the word which by the go.s- 
pel is preached unto you." 

♦Sec, in Appendix, Note II. 



To communities, as to individuals, the interests most impor- 
tant are those which relate to religion. For the reason that 
these interests are as unobtrusive as they are urgent in their de- 
mands, it is not always that either themselves, or the events 
which most signally illustrate them, appear prominently in a 
community's history. In Harwinton, during two-thirds of the 
time it has existed, no other events have been so conspicuous 
and impressive. 

It is not improbable that the influence, which led the Church 
at its origin to adopt and through forty years thereafter to main- 
tain 'the half-way covenant' practice, came from that leading- 
portion of our first settlers who emigrated from the Town where, 
in 1657, views favorable to that practice were held, and where, 
in 1696, that practice was strongly established. It seems certain 
that the character which the Church, and through the Church 
the Town, has borne in more recent times, may be attributable, 
so far as such agencies can be traced, to the circumstance that 
the other principal part of our earliest immigrants were emi- 
grants from the Town where, in 1734, began in this Colony a 
memorable revival of religion which afterwards overspread New 
England. That manifestation of "power from on high," since 
referred to as 'the great awakening,' "commenced in the First 
Parish in Windsor [, Ct.], about the same time as at Northamp- 
ton [, Ms]. It was remarkable at East Windsor."* As it extend- 
ed and wrought out its effects, it arrested the progress of many 
evils. It set up barriers against that corruption of principles 
and deterioration of morals which had for more than half of a 
century been like a violent tide rolling in. It showed that the 
lamentations of patriots over this degenerac}^, and the prayers 
of good men that it might be stayed, had not in vain ascended 
to Heaven. So many Windsor people came hither, with the 
influences of that "power" fresh in their minds that if they did 
not give body and shape, they at least imparted a manifest col- 
oring, to all that has here become history. To them, under God^ 
do we ascribe the facts, that a religious spirit has been so preva- 



*The Great Awakening. A History, i&c. By Josepli Tracy. 



89 

lent in ITiirwlnton, and tliat this spirit, especially at some sea- 
sons, has been made remarkable by so decisive manifestations. 

There being found no records of the Church kept while Mr. 
Bartholomew was its pastor, we are without evidence, cither that 
the tone of its piety was increa.sed, or that the number of its 
members was enlarged, on special occasions in his ministry. 
Such augmentations there may have been. It might seem from 
the absence of direct testimony to that effect, that such did not 
happen ; but an argument from the same premise would prove 
as conclusively, that in his ministry the Church had no deacons. 
Only indirect evidence, the title a})plied in the Town's Ilec- 
ords to their names, is furuishcd that such oflicers existed here 
in his time. 

Visible tokens of the divine approbation accompanied Mr, 
Perry's ministrations. Since the cessation of that great religious 
movement whose origin was coeval with Ilarwinton's ; similar 
seasons had been so few that, till the year when he began his 
pastorate, "we cannot find more than fifteen places in New Eng- 
land in which there was a special work of grace."* There were 
admitted to this Church in that year, in April, 15 members ; in 
May, 15; in June, 9; in July, 43; in October, 1; in Novem- 
ber, 2; in the remaining time of his ministry, 38.f Two tliirds 
of the accessions to church membership, while he w;is pastor 
here, resulted from religious revivals. 

As has in a previous connexion been mentioned, in the som- 
bre years, 'dark ages' in miniature they were, that came after 
Mr. Perry had gone, the way became gradually prepared for 
those times of brightness to follow which never, since their re- 
turn, have wholly withdrawn. In the first year of the pastorate 
of Mr. Williams, there was evident an improved state of things. 
The number of members of the Church increased, in that period, 
from 131 to 1534 I'iftwn of the persons then admitted Mr. 
"Williams regarded as the "converts," made during "a small rc- 

*Cbristian Spectator, June, 1333. 
fChiirth Reconla, Book I. 
^Church K.>cord8, Book II. 
12 



90 

vival of religion."* In 1799, such a season more extensive was 
experienced. It commenced in February on a week-day, at 
a meeting in whicli " a lecture had been previously appointed. 
The congregation was very large, and the effects of the Word 
were very visible.. In the evening another sermon was preached 
and some exhortations given. The effects were still more visi- 
ble. It is believed that, on this and the two succeeding days, 
more than a hundred persons received deep impressions of their 
miserable state ; and many of them were feelingly convicted of 
their total depravity of heart.. .Many were brought to see that a 
selfish religion, such as theirs was, was unsafe; and that they 
must have a principle, higher than the fear of hell or desire of 
happiness, to prompt them in the path of life.. .Several were 
brought under sorrowful and distressing conviction at midnight, 
on their beds — and many in such circumstances that it could not 
be accounted for on any principle, but the sovereign power and 
mercy of God." "From the 14th to the 20th of April, there 
were eighteen instances of hopeful conversion ;" from the be- 
ginning to the close of the season under review, "about one 
hundred and forty," principally of persons who were from twen- 
ty-five to forty-five years of age. Mr, Williams, in his "ac- 
count"f from which these statements are taken, said : "Some of the 
most unlikely to human appearance have been the subjects of this 
work. The high and the low, the weak and the strong, the rich and 
the poor, the mere moralist and the scoffer, the professor and the 
profligate, the profane and the inconsiderate.. .have been wrought 
upon. ..Surely it is all done by the blessing of the God and Father 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his 
will, to the praise of the glory of his grace." The number of 
admissions to the Church thus occasioned was, in 1799, one hun- 
dred. Mr, Williams described another season of this kind,f 
Beginning "about the middle of September, 1805," "its prog- 
ress was very rapid, attended with marks of divine sovereignty," 
It continued, "without very sensible abatement, for nearly six 
months ; in which time numbers were hopefully converted, and 

*His Autobiography. 

fSee herein, at p. 19, Note (f). 



91 

such visible tokens of divine grace.. .Avcrc exhibited, a.s gave oc- 
casion for the warmest thanksgiving." "The wicked lieart 
seemed to be overawed by the majesty find the sovereignty of 
the work ; and to appear as an o})p<>ser was to appear to be led, 
not by rational views of things, but by the spirit which actuated 
the Jews in their opposition to the work of God, when Paul and 
Barnabas were preaching successfully' at Antioch...Like the form- 
er, this awakening has extended into almost every part of the 
societ}'-, but the converts [in this] are not so immerous. The 
number now is seventy-five." " Though a few were of middle 
age, yet generally they were between the age of thirteen and 
twenty-five.. .In the former awakening it was observeil, that the 
subjects of it being principally heads of families cast a delight- 
ful a.<ipeet on the rising generation; and now with pleasure we 
record that many of the late converts are the children of those 
who then introduced family instruction and prayer." The ac- 
cessions to the Church, in 1806, were sixty-two. Another .sea- 
son of peculiar attention here to religion was more remarkal)le, 
both in the evidence of divine power which it exhibited, and in 
its enduring great results. Gotl's work in the heart, as Mr. "Wil- 
liams represented it,* was, at this time, effected with such rai)idi- 
ty that human instrumentahty seemed almost entirely excluded. 
The reading of the Scriptures was in a wonderful degree effec- 
tive. ' The sword of the Spirit appeared as if drawn from its 
sheath, and, in the hands of a more than human agent, glisten- 
ing with a surprising brightness.' The stoutest spirits were 
laid low. Tho.se who at this time seemed to have become in- 
deed 'renewed in the temper of their minds,' were not mere chil- 
dren, who might be deemed to have been effected by sympathy 
or excited by impassioned aj>poals, but, for the most part, adult 
persons, varying from twenty to sevent}' years in age. It was 
disclosed, however, in regard to some of the youngest of that 
coini)any, that they were tho.se for whom mothers had .spent 
many a nndnight hour in beseeching that spiritual blessings 
might be given them, and over whom now those same mothers, 
their prayers answered in fulfilment of the promi.ses, were re- 
joicing that the relatives i») dear to them had, in the highest 

•Sco herein, at page 79, Note (f). 



92 

sense, become indeed "cliildren of God." The number of per- 
sons added to the Church, in 1816, was one hundred and three.* 
Its members, 5 Jan., 1817, eleven having on that day been re- 
ceived, were three hundred and forty-one ; 2 May, 1819, three 
hundred and twenty-six.* 

The second year of the pastorate of Dr. Pierce " was distin- 
guished as a season of special grace. In the latter part of Feb- 
ruary, 1821, there appeared a deep and solemn impression on 
the minds of the people, manifestly the effect of divine influence. 
The work, at its commencement, was powerful and rapid. In 
the space of about three weeks seventy, a large proportion of 
them men and heads of families, expressed hopes of having ob- 
tained an interest in Christ. The work afterwards was more 
gradual and regular in its progress. It lasted till September or 
October when it gradually declined."f " During the second or 
third week of the revival, thirty expressed similar hopes." 
" Among the means blessed in promoting it, were religious visi- 
ting and conversation on the part of the members of the church. 
The scene was active, rather than passive ; yet there was great 
reliance on divine influence." " While it continued, the impres- 
sion was very general, ' It is the work of God ;' and there was 
little or no opposition to it.":}: "As the result of this revival, 
on the first Sabbath in September, a day of great interest and 
solemnity, one hundred and twenty-six, most of them people in 
mature life and many of them advanced in age, were added to 
the Church ; the first Sabbath in November, twenty more were 
added, and four afterwards ; making a total of one hundred and 
fifty [additions]. The principal part of the adult population, 
who were in the habit of attending on the means of grace, were 
now members of the Church, and the Church, embracing four 
hundred members, enjoyed a season of unexampled prosperit3^"f 

*Church Records, Book II. In that, on a cover, Mr. Williams has written: "By 
my records it appears that, during my pastoral connection, 3 years, 11 montlis at 
Southampton, and 32 years at Harwinton, the number of those admitted to com- 
munion with hopeful evidence of true^piety is 486." See, herein, at page 73. 

■j-MS. of Dr. Pierce. 
:JChurch Records, Book III. 



93 

"No general revival was exjicricnoe<l from 1824 to 1831. Af- 
ter seven years of eaptivity, God apjiearcd to redeem liis people, 
to sound the trump of jubilee and bid the slaves of sin and Sa- 
t^in beeome the freemen of the Lord." "This revival, like the 
former, commenced not far from the first of March, and from 
the first [it] was very powerful among the youth in difierent 
parts of the town. A large number of hopeful conversions took 
place, during the first few weeks of its progress." "In Novem- 
ber, when the work had in a great measure declined, it was 
deemed expedient to hold a protracted meeting, in the [then] 
usual form, of five days continuance. The exercises of this 
meeting, upon which large congregations attended, appeared to 
be accompanied with great power from on high, and, during the 
meeting and the few succeeding weeks, more than fifty [persons] 
of dilVerent ages supposed they had reason to believe, they had 
" passed from death unto life." There were additions, [made] 
to the Church at five successive seasons of Communion, in all 
amounting to one hundred and fifty [persons]. In a new year's 
sermon, [preached] the first Sabbath in January, 1832, which 
[time] was about the close of this revival, it w:us stated that there 
were four hundred and forty members in the Church, which is 
probably the largest number that were ever in the Church at 
one time."* 

By the fourth pastor of the Congregational Church baptism 
was "administered to forty-one persons at the time of their ad- 
mission to the Church, also to about two hundred infant children 
of church members."* Records of the baptisms administered 
here by his predecessors in the pastoral office do not appear, ex- 
cept those for the years 1816-1821 inclusive. 

Under the ministrations of the fifth pa.stor of said Church, 
there was through the year 1835 an obvious increase of the .«j^irit 
of prayer; and in the winter and spring ensuing many j>ersons, 
most of them in the flower of life, were the subjects of unusual 
religious impressions. In 1836, thirty -six j>ersons united them- 
selves to the Church; at other times, during his ministry, twen 
ty-three.f Some twenty- five jicrsons, who afterwards entered 

•MS. of Dr. ricroo. 

f Church RcvX>rU», Book IIL 



94 

its membership, stated that their new hopes and new life began 
in the period embraced by his pastorate here. 

By him were baptized in Harwinton six individuals of adult 
age, and forty-four children.* 

While Mr. Eentley was pastor of the same Church, " a work 
of divine grace made its appearance in the winter of 1840, char- 
acterized by deep and thorough convictions. The number added 
to the Church [was] forty. Again, [there was] a powerful work 
of grace, reaching almost all classes, [attended with] pungent 
convictions and in many instances speedy conversions, in the 
winter of 1842-3."f The number of persons, by profession 
admitted to the Church, in 1843, was fifty-three."^ There oc- 
curred another religious "revival in the winter of 1846 and 7, 
more limited."f In 1847 were, by jorofession, admitted to the 
Church eighteen persons.* 

In 1851, under Mr. Jones' pastorate, there were received to 
the Congregational Church ninety-six persons,* ninety-four at 
onetime.:}: Mr. Jones states: "These were not, however, near 
all who hopefully embraced Christ under my ministry among 
that people [, viz., in Harwinton]. There were some forty per- 
sons, the most of whom were young, who, I felt, needed trial and 
training, before they took upon them the obligations of the 
Church. There were persons from Plymouth Congregation, 
some from Northfield, Wolcottville and Burlington, who came 
to our meetings and were, it was hoped, savingly benefitted.":}: 

In respect to most of the seasons thus briefly sketched, in 
which religious truth was here accompanied with manifestations 
of unwonted power, may be said what the third Congregational 
pastor, writing in 1807, affirmed in respect to two of them: 
" The effect of those revivals was conspicuous, especially in the 
harmony and peace which pervaded the [Congregational] society, 
and in an uncommon degree of brotherly affection cementing the 
members of the Church." Eegarding all of the scenes that, 
since he thus spoke, himself and pastors succeeding him here 

*Cliurch Records, Book III. 
fMS. of Mr. Bentley. 
:^MS. of Mr. Jones. 



95 



have with tho same Church been delighted to behold, with how 
much energy might be repeated and witli how much feelmg 
mi<^ht be heard another expression which, at the time specified, 
beln view of similar ones made: ''I hope it will not appear ar. 
ro-ant to say, surely the members of this Church, together with 
their pastor and the society, ought humbly and affectionately to 
acknowledge, that they have very abundant reason for the live- 
liest exercise of gratitude and praise; and forever to bless the 
Lord of hosts for such wonderful and repeated tokens of his 
mercy ; and continually to sing. Alleluia."* 

♦Account, &.C., 1807. See herein, at page 1% Note (f). 



APPENDIX. 



Note A., Page 10. 
Importance of a Neiu England Town. 

" To commemorate tlie birth-day and perpetuate the annals of a retired 
New England town, may seem to some a trifling affair. But there is 
nothing dearer, to a man of sensibility, than his home. . . Here is the 
only true source of patriotism ; and the man who loves not to indulge in 
recollections of the home of his youth, is constituted of such materials 
as traitors are made of 

But a New England town, when philosophically considered, is of 
more importance than at first may be supposed. It is not a mere corpo- 
ration, but IS a little commonwealth of itself. Our towns are pure de- 
mocracies. Here alone [,a3 politically regarded,] the people deliberate, 
decide, and act, without the intervention of a second power ; and their 
most important interests are here consulted and regulated by themselves. 
The chief objects of taxation are entrusted to the towns. Tlie great and 
absorbing interests of learning and religion are within their jurisdiction, 
in their capacities of school and ecclesiastical societies. 

In town meetings, these primary assemblies of the people, our youth 
and young men are instructed in the first elements of political science ; 
not by study alone, but by actual observation and participation. Here 
have been the nurseries of our statesmen, and here, too, the quiet du- 
ties and submission of the citizen are first learned. I am persuaded, 
that without these rudimental institutions of civil liberty, New England 
could never have furnished her bright example in the struggle [of our 
nation] for independence ; nor could we have so successfully carried out 
the dangerous experiment of a people governed by themselves." — Hon. 
Samuel Churclis Centennial Address at Salishury^ {^^-i) -0 Oct., 1841. 
As more than sustaining those views of the late Chief Justice Church, 
himself an Episcopalian, may be cited from The Congregationalist, Bos- 
ton, May 18, 1860, thus: 

"The Churches' Quarrel Espoused." — This ancient volume by John Vise, 
first [ro-] issued in 1772, is soon to be published by the Congregational Board of 
Publication. Rev. Joseph S. Clark, D. D., in his " Historical Sketch of the Con- 
gregational Churches of Mass," speaks as follows of the work: 

Some of the most glittering sentences in the immortal Declaration of American 
Independence are almost literal quotations from this essay of John Wise. And it 
is a significant fact, that in 1772, only four j-ears Ijefore that declaration was made, 
a large edition of botli these tracts was published by subscription in one duo- 
decimo volume. The suspicion which this fact alone suggests, that it was used as 
a political text-book in the great struggle for freedom then opening in earnest, is 
fully confirmed by the list of subscriber.s' names printed at the end, with the num- 
ber of copies aimexed. Distinguished laymen in all parts of New England, who 
were soon to be heralded to the world as heroes in that struggle, are on that list 



97 

for sir, twelve, twenty-four, thirty-six, nnd two of tlicm for a Imndrcd copies ench! 
81ioiilii tlie tiino ever come for tlio poojilc ol this rc|>iil>lic to renew that fitnu^nle, 
or the Con(jre|.':itional oluirciies to rc-aasert their ancient riglita, anollier edition of 
this rare ohl boolt would be called for. 

The primary New England Towns originateil n.s adjuncts and out- 
growths of the distinctive Now Enghind, viz.. Cnngrogational, Cliurchos. 
In lioth institutions, the methods of organization and administration are 
radically the same. As, therefore, the Congregational C'hiirch .system 
i.s, what the best-informed ' di.ssenters ' from it admit, a revival of that 
which obtained among the primitive Christian.", the typical form of which 
■was the svnagogne; New Englanders, with such of their countrymen as 
have the like immunities, are under indebtedness to an ancient "peculiar 
people " who have for ages Ijcen greatly despised. Americans can be 
just to all men; and it is the part of magnanimity to acknowledge that, 
in the respects and to the degree above indicated, our freedom as well 
as "salvation is of the Jews." 

Some fifteen years ago the writer of this Note saw a prize Essay on 
the benefits attending on and resulting from the Town Organization. It 
was published near 1840. Abridged, it would be a valuable 'Tract for 
the Times.' Perhaps a patriot American could not easily render to his 
country a greater service tlian to place some appropriate treatise on that 
subject in the hands of the young men, especially of the young voters, 
in our land. 

'The origin of society' so learnedly or, rather, so dogmatically-igno- 
rantly written and talked about, lies too near home for a philo.sophist to 
see, viz., in the natural aggregation of families. The history of Europe 
to .some extent, the history of the United States more clearly, shows 
that the best political confederation results from the organic and organ 
ific aggregation of Towns. 

NoTK B., Tage 11. 

Population of I Far xc in ton. 

The number of inhabitants in Ilarwinton was in 

17.3G Ifio.* IS'^O, 1 *•'''. 

17:57' K'.l.* 1810, 1V18, 

I7.v;' •J->".t 1«20 i:>on, 

1771 l()ir.,+ 1S30 I5ir,, 

17S->' Vl\'>,^ 1840 r.'oi, 

1790', 13G7,' 1850 1 1T5.| 



♦Sec. heroin alwvp, pflR© 28. 

fSin.-o 1741), there had U-on little immigration. .<k)me persons h. id even tlius 
early lel\ Ilarwinton, to found other Towns; nnd mime, u »oo (, ou paije 110,) ^olo 
0, wore absent in the Colonial military service. 

t'('olorc<l jK-rsons, 3.' 

S'{;olore<l ^K•rson^ 5.' . . ,„« 

JTho population, in 17.'>6, of Litchfield County w.19 U.RiT; of ConnecUcut, 129.- 
99V in 1741 of LitchlUld Countv, 27,i.'^5: of Conneclicul, 197,85G: in 1S40. of 
LiU-iitleld County. 40.448; of Connoclicu^ 309,978: in 18i0, of LitcbfioUl County, 
45,253; of ConnVoticul, 370,792. 
V6 



98 

Note C, Page 14, 20. 
Purchase of Land from Indians. 

No man who is intelligent will deny, and no one who is humane but 
will regret, that our national government has, not always itideed, yet in 
many instances, pursued a policy, in respect to lands owned by 'native 
tribes/ akin to that which Ahab adopted in respect to Naboth's vine- 
yard. It must also be acknowledged, that too many persons are inclined 
to feel and to act toward the American Indians, as the ancient Israelites 
did towards the people of Canaan. Until a divine right, explicitly set 
forth in a divine command to that effect, can be produced, the work of 
fraudulently disinheriting these Indians, and of extirpating them either 
with or without removal from their possessions, ought to be abandoned. 
So much of that work has been already done, as may well awaken fear 
in the mind of any individual who remembers, that the just God will 
never forget the weak who are wronged and oppressed. 

Still, the talk which is sometimes heard from New Englanders, as in- 
volving accusations that like wrongs were committed against Indians 
here by the earliest English settlers in New England, is worse than an 
affectation of that sentimentality for which it seems intended to pass. 
Coming from such persons who either know, or have certainly had suf- 
ficient opportunity to know, what were the facts in this ca^e, such talk 
is as odious, without being as excusable, as is mere blattering ignorance. 
It falls little short of being a gratuitous slander thrown V>y degenerate 
men on their own parentage, the courage to do which they could not 
muster up — were that parentage still alive. Apart from the wrong of 
this matter, it is mortifying to be obliged to hear the prattle of persons, 
"neither understanding what they say, nor knowing Avhereof they af- 
firm." 

Facts, relative to the purchase of the territory of New England from 
its Indian possessors, may be found in a large part of our New England 
Histories. The earliest records of our oldest New England Towns are 
of deeds, duly given, conveying the land within the bounds of such 
Towns, for due considerations received by the Indians formerly owning 
it. One of the eminent lawyers of Massachusetts, who had been most 
conversant with contested land claims, has stated that he was never en- 
gaged in such a case, in which the title was not ultimately traced up to 
an ' Indian deed.' In instances where, as at Salem, Ms., the Indians had 
nearly or quite left a territory before the English colonists came to it ; 
Indians who afterwards appeared, claiming the territory, received satis- 
faction. Those who wish to examine this matter, should consult the 
archives of the oldest New England States and Towns, with the state- 
inents of the earliest New England historians. How fairly bought and 
how fully paid for by the English settlers was the land of these eastern 
States, is not a thing hard to be learned. 

As to this locality, these things appear. Sequassen,* who was Sacliem 

*So, DeForest. Goodwin, iu his Descendants of Thomas Olcott, Appendix, writes 
the name Sunckquasson. 



00 

of wh.it now is Hartfonl, sol.l to the Knglisli f=fttk«rg tliore not only that 
phice l)ut, with that, "tlio whole region westward, inelmling the territo- 
ries of the Tunxis as far as the country of the Mohawks." Tho doe<l 
of this sale seems to have heen lost, hut the fact of this sale is acknowl- 
cchred in a HMiewal deed, given in 1G70, by which the Indians succes- 
sors of Sequasscn, confirm his conveyance ..f Suckiage, alias Hartford, 
to the English settlers. The Hartford people, who, in 1G40 four 
years after that sale, settled Farmington, then Tnnxis. re-purchased tliat 
part of the t.'rritory. These same j.eople, in IG-'jO, made another agree- 
ment, concerning land, with the Tunxis Indians, agents for whom were 
"Tethus the sachem or gentleman" of Tunxis, and Ahamo, another of 
those Indians' principal men; f^erinassen's autliority b.-ing at that time 
of no consequence, as lie was in exile. In IG.H, some of the tanning- 
ton settlers procured of the same Tunxis tribe coparcenary rights and 
title to Mattatuc. In 1714 (, or 1718), the heirs of those grantees re- 
ceived from the successors of those grantors a confirmatory deed, con- 
veying the alisolnte rights and title to those grantees. ^\ ithin that tract, 
as"bvthe known locality of "y* hill " appears, is included Litchheld, 
partly- Ilarwinlon, whollv. If the Pootatuck Indians had ever any 
claim" or ownership in this territory, they had parted with such ; since, 
as is stated,* "the names of their chiefs are appended to deeds of sale 
[of luul>l extending from Perpionnnck in Hridgeport, on the south, to 
Goshen and Torrington, on the north." It appears from this recital, 
that whatever rights the Indians had to this part of Connecticut soil they 
conveyed away by manv rei.eated sales. Their rights to it, it should 
also be said, seem to ha^e been onlv such as attach to a mere hunting 
groun.l. The Pootatucks a small tribe at Woodbury excepted, no In- 
dians lived permanentlv in any part of what is now Litchfield county, 
until towards the middle part of the seventeenth century. 1 hen, or at 
about that period, various clans had emigrated into its northwestern por- 
tion. Previously to that time, Indians were here as occasional sojourn- 
ers, not as stated residents. r -iir i 

The Indian convevance of the territory comprising part of Waterl.ury 
( Plvmouth), with this township and in part that of Litchheld, will he 
found in Farmington Records. This territory, as has before (. pp. IJ-'-il-) 
been mention.Ml, had been, formally at lea.st, given, in 1(580, to the Towns 
of Hartford and Windsor. The interest which the Farmington people 
had 1)V that convevance acquired, or the claim which they had foundeJ 
upon that convevance, they gave up to those Town«, and »]»;>; ^'r'J'f'' 
from the Colon v' therefor one sixth part of the township of Litchheld.t 
One deed "copied from the Farmington record." Dr. Hronson, in his llis- 
torv of Waterbury. gives as follows (. together with facsimiles of thr» 
murkj of the grantors, which are here onii ted): 

Tl.i'« Witncsscth llmt WwKcpafiu.ainp nnd Qucrrimtis nn.j Mauiucagr li.^v.- .o„.„ 
to William UwU and Samue-U Sloole of lTariiuutcl«" -^ P**-'!! ur \ irackl of I^.d 



•Hintofy of Woodbury, 

fU.slory of Litclifiold, and lliatory of Wiiiorbury. 



100 

called matetacoke that is to Say the hill from whence John Standley and -John 
Andrews: brought the black lead and all the Land within eight: mylle: of that 
hill: on every side: to dig: and carry away what they will and To build on y' for 
y« Vse of tiiem tliat Labor there : and not otherwise To improve : y" Land In wit- 
nes whereof wee: have hereunto set our: liands: and those: Indians above men- 
tioned must free the purchasers from all Claymes: by any other Indyans: 
Witnes John Steel William Lewis 

febuary: y« S'l-ISST Samuel Steele 

The marke ( ) of Kepaquamp : 
The mark ( ) of Q\ierrimu3 
The mark of ( ) Mataneage 

After copying the above-quoted instrument into liis History of the 
Town- of Litchfield, Connecticut, George C. "Woodruff, Esq., says: 
"Precisely where the hill referred to in this deed was situated, I have 
been unable to discover, but from the subsequent claims of the grantees, 
from tradition, and from the deed itself, it would seem that it w-as in the 
southern part of Harwinton, and embraced that Town and also some 
portion of Plymouth (then [called] Matatuck or Waterbury) and Litch- 
field. This purchase was made by the grantees in behalf of themselves 
and [of] a companjr composed of certain other inhabitants of Farming- 
ton." Dr. Bronson says : "It doubtless proved valueless for the pur- 
poses for which it was obtained, as we hear nothing further concerning 
the black lead."* 

The later deed, conveying to Farmington people the whole Lidian 
title to the " trackt," bears date. Dr. Bronson affirms, "the 11th day of 
August, 1718." The essential part of it, as given by Mr. Woodruff, is 
as follows : 

. . . Allso y« s^ Pethuzso, and Toxcronuck with y' Rest of the Jndians subscri- 
bing do hereby for our selves and our heir execut" couenant promise, grant and 
agree, to and with j" s'^ John Stanly Steel and Lewis in manner and form as fol- 
loweth, tliat y« s<' Keepaquam, Querimus and Mattaneage at y" time of y" enseal- 
ing of y" conuayance above expressed, they were y" true and lawfull owners of 
y" Land contained jn y« Premises and stood seized of the whole tract of land con- 
tained in J" book of Records in y« premises : after y" meathod that other Jndians 
useed to do, jn theycr own right; yet for a further sattisfaction of y° heirs of Capt. 
Lewis, Steel, and Stanly we haue giuen this Jnstrument to Left Stanly and Wilham 
Lewis, son of Capt Lewis, and Ebenezor Steele to be A further confirmation to 
them and y* ancient Purcliasers forever. Now this Jndcnture wittnesseth for a 
' furtlier confirmation to them y' s^ Stanly, Lewis and Steel, that we y** s-" Pethuzso 
and Toxcronuck with j" rest of us y" subscribers do grant Release and Quitt any 
claime to y" aboue s"* Tract or Percell of Land and do hereby assigne, enfeoffe, Rat- 
tefie and Confirm unto the afores'^ Will'" Lewis Sarjt Ebenezer Steel and Left John 
Stanly theyer ancient Purchasers and theyer lieirs forever, all y" forementioned 
premises that is to say the hill from wlience John Stanly and John Andrus brought 
y« blacklead and all y« Land within eight mile of y= hill on euery side, wiih all 
y« timber trees, woods brooks rivers, mines, minerals thereupon, and hereby sur- 
render and Quitt our claime to y' same for them to have and to hold Possess and 
enjoy and their heirs forever, and do hereby warrant maintain, and defend y* s"* Pur- 
chasefs theyer heirs and assigns jn y Quiet and Peaceable Possession, and enjoy- 
ment thereof as above described, against our selves our heirs execut" admini" and 
assigns and and all and euery other p "■ son or p ■■ sons lawfully claiming Right Title 
Jntrest therein from by, or under us. 

*It was traditionally transmuted into block lead ; as see (, hereinafter,) Note U. 



Petasas granchild her mark. 
Awowas his mark 



101 

Jn withiPM wl.orcof wo y' paid Pctthu/.so Toxcrnnnck Awowas will. >•• Rest 
ha.io U. tl.is Jn.lcnttire Put our liands. and scales, tl.is Howcnll. of Augu«t in y 
year of o' I^rd one thousand and seven liundred and loiirtfcn: 1 1 U 
Sifemed scaled and dehvered "1 Pctthuzso: his mark 
in V prL'sence of us, 1 

John Thomson, [ Toxcruuuck: his 

lloz. Hooker J 

ffarminpton September v* elcncnlh day, Anno q- Do™. 1714, Petthnzso, and Tox- 
cronnck mirminK'ton Jndians, and subscribers to this abouc written Jnstrum.-nt 
came n' sonallv before mo and acknowledged y same to be theyerown wilhiiR and 
free act and deed, J^H^ UOOkhll, Justic. 

^Vittnesses to Taphow "1 
and his squa sijrn- Young Taphow his mark, 

ing scaling and de- 1 
livcring ( 

Tho's I^e, Young Tapho w Squa 

Ilez. Hooker J 

"Witnesses to Awo- 
was signing seal- 
ing A delivering. 
Timothy Porttcr, 
Jo-siah Hart. 

ffamiincton Octob' V 12th. Anno Domi: 1711: Taphow y younger and his sqiia; 
allso Wowowis all ffarmington Jndians came p ' sonally before me, and acknowl- 
edged tiiis abouc written Jnstrumcnt— which they have signed and sealed to be 

thver own willing free act and deed. 

•^ *' JOHN HOOKER, Justic 

Note D., Page 14. 

Connecticut Ixiivs. 

The so called 'Blue Laws' of Connecticut form the staple topic, and 
that a verv stale one, of her revilor.j;. If she had actually been in the 
shameful or shameless condition which such persons, too often her own 
sons, represent her to have come into by making and enforcing those 
as.'ertcil 'laws,' did it not become these persons rather to tljrow a man- 
tle over her, tlian, by talking with plea.'jure about her being in .<:uch a 
pli-'ht. to 'foam out their own sliame?' Those so called 'law.--.' liowever, 
we're not so much enactdl by a Connecticut Legislature as invented by 
a renegade maligner of the position and measures which, eighty years 
ago, Connecticut chose to take regarding the revolutionary war, to all 
which his instincts and objects made him averse. Any one who desires 
to see what is revealed by an examination of Dr. Sanniel I'ctcrs. and of 
his accusations of Connecticut, as respects those a.sserted 'laws,' will 
find hi:^ work thoroughly dissected and its author morally gibbete<l in 
James Luce Kingsley, LI>.D.'s Historical Address, d.livricd at the Bi- 
centennial Anniversary of the settlement of New Haven. 

Connecticut has never claimed perfection. Her legislators hnve not 
been faultless. Her laws bear, what tlu-ir autlmrs did, the marks of 
some Inuiian imperfections. Let as nmch be made of tliis fact as truth 
will justify and as circumstances may reinler needful, but not more than 
that. Having read carefully the ancient laws of Connecticut, the writer, 



102 

not by birth to Connecticut belonging, might with some confidence pre- 
sent his own views regarding the general character of said laws. He 
might, in preference to intimating any judgment of his own touching 
the matter, cite, respecting it, the deliberately formed and publicly ex- 
pressed sentiments of speakers and writers, as well out of Connecticut 
as in it, who are in every respect ^"^ to the fullest extent competent to 
pronounce in this regard. But there is a way more decisive of the ques- 
tion, than the delivering or tlie quoting oi opinions. Let one who wish- 
es to know what the laws of Connecticut have been in former times, just 
find what her people have been. Let him read, as to their character 
the whole State through, Hollister's History of Connecticut, and, as to 
their character in Litchfield County, Bushnell's ' Sermon ' delivered at 
the Litclifield Jubilee in 185 L Indeed, for learning this, he need not 
wait till he has read any thing. A candid man can satisfactorily deter- 
mine what the former generations were, by seeing what the present gen- 
eration is. Are a people such as in general those now in Connecticut 
are, the descendants of men who, as a body, were such as making or 
submitting to the asserted ' Blue Laws ' would show them to have been ? 
As a general fact, a whole people are never better than their laws are ; 
often, they are worse. If the present people of Connecticut are what 
they are admitted to be, the laws which their fathers had, and their 
fathers themselves in helping by means of their laws to make these peo- 
ple what they are, deserve high commendation. 

Note E., Page 15. 

Early Evil-Doers of New England. 

" No colony ever emigrated into a wilderness without soon drawing 
into their neighborhood, if not into their number, those whose congenial 
habitation is on the borders between a civilized and a savage comnmni- 
ty. Our fathers were by no means exempt from tliis universal bane of 
new settlements." " Even of the one hundred and one who first arrived 
in Cape Cod Harbor, there were evidently several, besides children, who 
made no pretensions to personal godliness.. .several in the capacity of ser- 
vants. Two of these soon engaged in fighting a duel, and were sen- 
tenced by the whole company " to have their hands and feet tied togeth- 
er, and so remain twenty-four hours without meat or drink." ' [The 
Planters of Massachusetts and those of Connecticut and of New Haven, 
equally with the Pilgrims of Plymouth, have, as thus inevitably connect- 
ed with what are in these days expressively termed ' harder ruffians,^ 
received an immoderate apportionment of obloquy.] " When they ban- 
ished such pests from tlieir domain, they were complained of as intole- 
rant, and if they suffered them to remain, they were represented as con- 
niving at their iniquities. Very often do tlieir descendants, at this day, 
represent them as guilty of the very acts of the hangers-on, against 
Avhom they contended wnth all their miglit, and then with the same 
breath condemn them as bitter persecutors for expelling such gross of- 
fenders as tliey were able to banish from their community. Tliese cul- 
prits, hke others in all ages and countries, went off complaining loudly 



103 

of infringement of their liberties ; [atul] now, witli unaccountable gusto, 
nuiltituiles swallow their complaints, and aro far more sure that ihey 
judge right than are those best aciiuainttrd with the whole history of their 
case." — C. [Joseph S. Clark, D.D. ?J, in The Conjn/jntionalist, Huston, 
September 10, 1858, 

Note F., Taof. 20. 

Did Hartford and Windsor contest the title of the Colony to land, now 

in Litchfield County, west of the Ilousatonic river f 

It has been supposed that the Towns of Hartford and "Windsor, in 
their controversy with the Colony of Connecticut, respecting " the Wes- 
tern lands," laid claim to a tract more extended than the one specified in 
the act of the Colonial Legislature. Rev. Grant Powers, in his Centen- 
nial Address at Goshen, says : " Their [the said Towns'] claim was 
extensive, comprehending Kent, Litchfield, Ilarwiiiton, New Hartford, 
Torrington, Goshen, Cornwall, Salisbury, Canaan, Norfolk, AVinchester, 
Colebruok, liarkhamstcd, and Ilartland." Dr. Bronson, in his History 
of Waterburv, (followed by Mr. Kilbourn, in his Sketches and Chroni- 
cles of Litchiield,) implies the like opinion by saying: "In settling the 
claims of the Ilart/ord and Windsor proprietors to the lands in Litch- 
iield County, the Colony obtained the quiet possession of seven town- 
ships in the western part of the County — Norfolk, Goshen, Canaan, 
Cornwall, Kent, Salisbury and Sharon." It will be noticed that Mr. 
Powers' enumeration omits Sharon, and that Dr. Bron.son's includes, 
with Kent which lies partly on each side of the Ilousatonic, Salisbury 
and Sharon which lie wholly on the west side of it. This discrepancy 
may not argue an error ; but the assertion of the one writer so agrees 
with the implication of the other writer, as seems to denote that the 
view held by both of them had, in each, the same occasion. "What this 
was mav, perhaps, 1)0 conjectured. Dr. Trumbull, in his History of 
Ctinnecticut, gives his account of the controversy which Hartford and 
"Windsor had with the col«>Tiy about "the Western land.s," in so clo.se a 
connection with his account of the arrangements which, after the contro- 
versv was ended, were made by the Legislature for the sale and .se'tle- 
menl of those lands, and lie, throughout this latter acoomit, so speaks of 
" the fourteen townships," " the fourteen new townships," and of " Kent 
anotlu'r of the new townships;" as very naturally to makt« the impres- 
sion that those Towns had altercated witii tlif Colony for lands west, 
as well as cast, of the Ilousatonic. A person, not one of the al>ove 
named, is known to have derived from those prenjises that conchusion. 
Dr. Trumbull, however, does not aflirm that as many of those new town- 
ships were made out of that share of tho disputed territory which the 
Colon V at last secured, as were made out of that which it ceded to Hart- 
f )r<l and Windsor. Of that share which tin* Colony secured of the dis- 
puted territory, less than five townships were* made, viz., Canaan, Corn- 

•Litchflcld townaliip had bem made, sovcml yean provioualj. 



10-i 

wall, Goslien, Norfolk, and part of Kent. Tliat tliere were in market, 
at the time referred to, seven townships owned by proprietors in Hart- 
ford and Windsor, and, at the same time, seven townships of which the 
Colony was proprietor, was simply a coincidence. There would have 
been more than seven or less than seven, then for sale by the Colony, 
had that part of " the "Western lands " situated between the Housatonic 
and the boundary of New York been somewhat larger or somewhat 
smaller than it was. The Colony, as a basis for ending the dispute about 
those lands, was to share them equally with the Towns that had claimed 
them. Any person by a litile calculation will find that, when Salisbury 
and Sharon with that part of Kent which is on the western side of the 
Housatonic are omitted, the Colony retained of the disputed territory 
a district about as large as that which it yielded to the claimant Towns. 

Note G., Page 20. 
Original Proprietors of Harwirdon. 

I. The proprietors or grantees of the western half township, by 
them called 'West Harwinton,' were : 

Samuel A.l!yn, John Bancraft, John Barber, Joseph Barnard, Daniel Bissell, Eben- 
ezer Bissell, Tlioraas Buckland, Simon Chapman, Benjamin Colt, John Cook, Sen., 
Thomas Cook's heirs, Samuel Denslow, Nathaniel Drake, Benjamin I'^g'lestone, Isaac 
Eglcstone, Caleb Elmer, John P^lsworth's heirs, Daniel Garrett's heirs, John Gaj'lord, 
Daniel Gillet, John Grant, Joseph "Grayham," Daniel Griswold, Jnn., Edward 
Griswold, Matthew Griswold, Pelatiah Griswold, Samuel Ileydon, Joseph ITolcomb, 
Timothy Ilosford, Ebenezer Loomis' heirs, Hezekiah Loomis, Mary Loomis, Nathan- 
iel Loomis, Sen., Noah Loomis, Pelatiah Mills, Amos More, John More, Jr., Roger 
Newlierry, Nathaniel Owen, Daniel Phelps, Samuel Phelps, Sen.. "William Phelps' 
heirs, Josiah Rockwell, Joseph Skinner's heirs, Noah Sparks, Daniel Stoughton, 
John Stoughton, Return Strong's heirs, Henry Styles, Son., .lohn Styles, Sen., Thom- 
as Styles, Nathaniel Watson, Samuel West, Daniel White's heirs. 

II. The proprietors or grantees of the eastern half township, by them 
called 'East Harwinton,' were: 

John Andrews, "Sen., Jonathan Arnold's heirs, Samuel Benton, John "Bracy,' 
Moses Bull, James Bunce, John Bunce, Jnn., Joseph Bunce, Jonathan BiUler, Thom- 
as Butler's heirs, Joshua Carter, Benjamin Catlin, Samuel Catliu, Timothy Eastou, 
Benjamin "Grayham's" heirs, Jonah Gross, Bariiabus Hinsdell's heirs, Joseph 
Iloltom, ]<:i)enezer Hopkins' heirs, Ebenezer Hopkins, Jonathan Hopkins, Thomas 
King, Jonathan Mason, Daniel Messenger, Joseph Mygatt's heirs, Thomas Olmstead, 
Thomas Richards, Tliomas Richards, Jan., Sanuiel Sedgwick. Zechariah Seymour, 
Joseph Skinner, Thomas Spencer,, William Warren, Abram Webster, Samuel Web- 
ster, William Webster's heirs, John White, Jud., John Williams, Mary Williams, 
Hezekiah Wyllys, Esq. 

Note H., Page 23. 

Ad of the Legislature tnQorporating Harwinton : passed at 
the session which hegan 13 October, 1737. 

Upon the Memorial of Daniel Messenger Zachariah Seymour and Anthony Horg- 
kins in behalf of themselves and the rest of the Jnhabitants of the Plantation 
called Harwinton shewing to this Assembly sundry Greivances aud Difficulties suf- 
fered by them for want of Town Priviledges aud praying tlie same may be now 



105 

prnntcil unto tlicm by this Asscmlily, and also prayinp tho Lands within the Bounds 
of sajil riaiitation uy.iy l>c Taxed, mid Dial tliiy may have Liberty to Jiiil)0(ly in 
Clmrcii Ivstatf, Ueaolved by this AKsemlily tiiat Said I'laiitation be a Town .Incor- 
porate Known by tiio name of llarwiiiton and Vested wilii Town Priviiedj^es as 
Other Towns in tliis Colony I'lstabiisiied by Law arc, and tiiat a Tax of iwo jjenee 
pr Acre shall be Assesed &. Lcvyed u[)on all the Lands within tho IJounds of said 
Town Annually for the S|iace of four years, next after the Session of tho Uen' As- 
sembly in May next in Lieu of any former (jrant or Tax, and that the Collectors for 
the Time bcinj; in said Town shall annually CoUeet said Tax, who are hereby Au- 
thorized and Jmpowred to Collect tho same as Other Collectors of town Rates by 
Law are .t haviuf? Collected tho same, said Collectors are to deliver tho snmo to 
such Couunittee or Committees from Time to Time as said Town shall make Choice 
of for that pur|)ose, and to l)e by them Applyed and Jmproved, for tho Support of 
the OospcU Ministry and Buildiiii; a Meeting IIouso in said Town, and it is further 
Resolvetl that said Juhabitants have Liberty to Jmbody themselves into Church Ks- 
tate and Settle an Orthodox Minister of tho Gospoll in said Town with the Advice 
ami Consent of tho Xeighbouring Churches, and it is further by this Assembly Re- 
solved that the Lcltor A shall be the Brand for Horses in the Town of Ilarwinton — 

Note L, Tage 23, 20. 
Formation of Litchfield County. 

A petition, praying " that the towns of Litchfield, "Woodburj, Ne\r 
Milfonl, Kent, Sharon, Salisbury, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Harwinton, 
Torrington, Norfolk, New Hartford, Barkhampstoad, Hartkind, Win- 
chester, and Colebrook, be made a County," was presented, t'j) the Legis- 
lature, 20 Aug., 175L Said petition has on it, of Harwinton citizens, 
the names following : 

Daniell Phelps, Abijah Catlinp, Joseph Marrimon, Jobo Alford, Ezreal [Kzekiel] 
Scovil. Benjamin Catlintr, Jun.. Daniel Catlinp, Ebenezer Hopkins, Jun., W" Hey- 
don, Nathan Davis, David '\i\'iUcoks, Ju., John Barbour, Jacob Benton, Jonathan 
Hopkins, Amos Bull, L«aac Bull, Noah Lomes, Juner, Sam" Stone Butler, Ciprian 
Webster, Aaron Cook, L-^ral Merimon, Anthony Hoskins, I'^benezer Hopkins. Jacob 
Hinsdell, Sam' Phelps, Timothy Stanly, .T\m., John Wilson, Sam' Barbor, Thomas 
Bull, Daniel Bartholomew, Jacob Peck, Noah Loomus, Samutl Bull, Joel Catlin. 

A remonstrance against the formation of such proposed new County 
was presented to the Legislature, 17 Sept., 1751. On said remonstrance 
are, of Harwinton citizens, tlie names following : 

Bcnj. Catling, Ebenczcr TIeydon, Daniel Messenger, Jonathan Hopkins, Xath" 
Mood}-, J.acob Benton, Abraiiam Catlin, Aaron Cook, Junor, Johnntlian Catling, 
S;imuel C<xik, Jonathan Brace, David Heyilon, Joseph Heydcn, Timothy .Stanly, 
Kbanescr Tyler, Joscjih Curtice, Ashbol Skinner, Abiel Tylor, Sam' Messi-ngcr, 
William Klsworth, Hez. Hopkins, Daniel (lillitt, Janna Ciriswold, Zechariah .'k-ymor, 
John Coult, Houbon Harbur. Kzfpt [Kzokiel] .'Vovil, David Willcok.s, Kliaa Wilicoka, 
John Still [.Stct'lo ?J, Sam" Wesson, Nohemiah Hopkins, Amos Calling. 

' The following desire that their names may bo erased from the prece- 
ding petition,' in a request presented to the Legislature, 22 Sept., 17.31 ; 
viz : 

.^Nim' Stone Butlor, Amos Bull, Timothy Stnnly. Jun., Jonathan Hopkins. Jun., 
?!lK-noy,er Hopkins, Jun., Jacob Benton, Jun., Jacob Hins<lell. John Barbur, Thomai! 
Bull, Samuel Bull. 

14 



106 

Note J., Page 23. 

The Pioneer Settler. 

"The first man that settled in Harwinton was Daniel Messinger from 
Hartford, in the month of January, 1730. My father, Jonathan Brace, 
who married [Mary] the aforesaid Messenger's fourth daughter, settled 
in Harwinton, April, AD. 1733, aged [, at that time,] 23 years." — MS. 
of James Brace, Esq., in possession of his son-in-law, Dea. Jonathan 
Balch, of Harwinton. 

Note K., Page 26. 

' Modern Improvements.^ 

Nearly all the houses in the village of Harwinton were erected, since 
the present century began. In 1837, there were resident in that village 
only two families who had been there twenty -five years. 

Certain other changes were made more recently than most persons 
now might suppose. The introduction of pleasure carriages bears here, 
as elsewhere, a quite modern date. The mode of conveyance, for riders, 
was at first mainly on horseback, the horse being trained to carry two 
persons and, occasionally, more than two. Sometimes vehicles drawn 
by oxen would be employed, especially in the winter, and when it was 
desirable to convey families. Light four-wheeled carriages, each drawn 
\>j one horse, were not known here, till about 1818, and these were 
then more like what is called 'a one-horse lumber-waggon' than what 
are now styled buggies. Some years before the date last mentioned, 
wagons drawn by tioo horses began to be used for conveyance of per- 
sons. Among the first individuals who owned here such Carriages, were 

Messrs. Hayden, Joel Gillet, Samuel Phelps, David Candee, who, 

coming with their families to Church in these carriages, occasioned, by 
the noise which was made, ' some excitement ' to their neighbors who 
had not the means of being in that way as noisy. 

The early manners and customs of Connecticut, are noticed at length 
in Hollisters History of Connecticut, V, I., Cliap. XX. 

Note L., Page 27. 
The Messenger Family. 

On account of the prominence of Capt. Daniel Messenger in the early 
history of Harwinton, and as illustrating the migratory habits of New 
Englanders, the following notices are given. 

Edward Messenger was a grantee of New London, Ct., 6 Nov., 1651. He, soon 
after, removed to Windsor, Ct. — Hist, of New Lond. 

Henry Messenger was a first settler of Jamaica, L. I., 1656. He was from Con- 
necticut. — Thompson's Hist, of L. I. 

Nathaniel Messenger, of Hartford, was one of the grantees of Bantam (, Litch- 
field), 27 April, 1719.— (History of Litch.?) 

Nathaniel Messenger, from Hartford, began the settlement, 1742, of 'the South- 
west or Winter parish,' in Farmington, incorporated a 'Society' and called New 
Cambridge in 1744, now the Town of Bristol. — Porter's Centen. Address at Far- 
mington. 



107 

Nehcmia)i, son of Capt. Daniel Messenger, was of Cornwall, Ct., 1713; of Shuf- 
ficld, Ms., n.'iO; and. us hcroinbeforo mentioned, of Egremont, Ms., 1756. — liar- 
winton Roc. IILst. of Berkshire Co., M.S. 

Mos.'seni^LT was a settler of Becket, Ms., 175r). — Hist, of Berk. Co., Mh. 

Uo'.ifrii'k Mcsseiijrer, liurn (:i twin brother to Andrew Messenj^er) at llarwint.in. 
a sun of Samuel and Mabel Mes.?enger. 11 Mareli, 1711-2, was among ti)c first im- 
migrants of West Stockbridgo, Ms. Ho went thither from Farmington, Ct. — J list. 
of Berk. Co., Ms. 

Lsaac Messenger removed from Pimsbiiry (, now Granby.) to "West Simsbury {, now 
Canton), about 17-i:{-4. He died in 1801, aged 82. — Hist, of Canton, Ct. 

Tliis surname did not long romain in Ilarwinton. The cliildren of 
Dea. Junatlian Balch (, sxa see hereinbefore Note J.), of Horace Bissell, 
residents of Harwinton, and those of Gaylord Wells, M. D., resident in 
West Hartford, are descendants of the pioneer settler, Capt. Daniel 
Messenger. 

Note M., Page 28, 30. 

Tabular arrangement of Earhj Settlers in Ilaricinton. 

To ascertain in what places had previously resided those persons ^vllo 
became the earliest inhabitants of Englisli descent in any New England 
Town, i.*, in many respects, a matter of worthier interest than the grati- 
fication of even a laudable curiosity. With tho.se places, as below des- 
ignated of such inhabitants of Harwinton, it seemed desirable to connect 
certain other specifications. As the basis of such specifications, /</c/a* 
have been earnestly souglit. History cannot much value tradition ; for 
tradition, too often, becomes — what the derivation of the word inti- 
mates — traitorous. When radicallj' true, it lacks precision. It tends 
to eidarge thing,^, when it does not distort them. Like ill-report and 
snowballs rolled, ' it grows as it runs.' Its accounts as to other matters 
are, on examination, found as ' unreliable ' as are in genealogy its ac- 
counts, which American investigators are told, of 'There were three broth- 
ers of our surname who came over from England to this country.' In- 
deed, only believe what such as do not have records of their ancestry 
declare, and, a tvro in genealogical researches, you shall see tlie sets of 
' three brothers ' increase, by repetition of inquiry, as rapidly as did, by 
repetition of the story, the 'three crows' which an »«ccrtain invalid's 
stomach disgorged. Still, facts are not always recorded. Records made 
are not alwavs preserved. Existing ones are not always known, or, 
when known, cannot be visited; sometimes transcripts of them are not pm- 
curable. It has happened, thus, that some items which were desired, as 
respects the earliest settlers in Harwinton, were not obtainable. It be- 
came a necessity then, either not to allude to them, or to present, re- 
specting them, what in view of various known circumstances seem to be 
in a high degree probabilities. The latter alternative was adopted for 
the rcfuson that, while 'blind conjectures' can hardly do belter than mis- 
lead, ' intelligent conjecture,' if one takes it for that and that only, may 
put him in the way of reaching truth. Some matters of verisimilitude, 
carely denoted as no more than such, will therefore be noticed among 
the fact.'', and the authorities assigned with the facts, presented in t!ie 
followinff table : 



108 









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110 

Note N., Page 29. 

Titles among the early Nero Englanders. 

The founders of New England brought with tliem to America those 
principles which in due time found enunciation in the statement that "all 
men are born free and equal;" but they also brought with them, of 
course, the feelings which, at the time of their leaving England, were 
prevalent there. Among those feelings was, as it now seems, an inordi- 
nate respect for some of the marks by which are designated external 
distinctions in society. Their 'dignifying the seats' in their Church 
buildings, here carried to a somewhat farther extent, perhaps, than in 
England, was no more an exhibition of those feelings than was their scru- 
pulous regard for titular designations. The following extract from an 
old English author will show the ancient regard had for titles ; and the 
degeneracy of titles, too. 

As for gentlemen, they be made good-cheap in England ; for whosoever studieth 
the laws of the realm, who studieth in the universities, who professeth liberal 
sciences, and to be short, who can live idly and without manual labor, and will 
bear the port, charge and countenance of a gentleman, he shall be called Master 

[Mr.], for that is the title -which men give to Esquires and other gentlemen 

Yeomen are next to the nobilitj-, knights and squires. This sort of people are not 
gentlemen, but for the most part farmers to gentlemen, and by grazing, frequenting 
markets, etc., do come to such wealth that they are able to buy the lands of un- 
thrifty gentlemen, and after setting their sons to the universities, to the laws, etc., 
do make their sons gentlemen. Yeomen are not called Masters [Mr.], but to their 
sirname men add goodman.* 

In Massachusetts, among the early planters, " the title of Mr., or Mas- 
ter, was applied to captains and sometimes to mates of vessels ; to mili- 
tary captains ; to schoolmasters, doctors, magistrates, and clergymen ; 
to persons who had received a second degree at college, and who had 
been made freemen. The wives and daughters of Masters were called 
Mrs. To be deprived of the Mr. was considered a grievous loss of caste. 
An instance of this kind occurred in 1631, when the Court of Assist- 
ants took such a title from an individual for immoral conduct. ' Good- 
man' was prefixed to the surnames of such as were not denominated 
^Masters. The help-meets of these persons Avere called 'Goodwives' 
[often shortened, however, into Goody]. "f The like prevailed in the 
first-settled towns in Connecticut. At Norwich, for instance, begun in 
1646, few persons had the distinction of Mr. "Old men had the title 
of Gaffer, otliers that of Goodman, Avhich was considered a respectful 
appellation, and is often used in the records. Women, in like manner, 
were respectfully addressed as Gammers and Goodwives."| 

Dr. Cotton Mather, referring to a visit, made in 1632 hj Gov. "Winthrop, to Plym- 
outh, Ms., relates: "There wore at this time in Plymouth two ministers,, leavened 
60 far with the humours of the rigid separation, that they insisted vehemently up- 

*Smith's Commonwealth of England. Cited in Annals of Salem [, Ms], 
f Annals of Salem [. Ms]. 
^History of Norwich [, Ct]. 



Ill 



on the unlawfulness of callinpr any unrcffoucratc man by Iho name of "good-man 
such an one '- until, bv their indiscreet urging of thi« whimsy, the Plaeo be«an to 
be disquieted. The wiser people beiuK troubled at these tnfk-M they to<>k the op- 
p^rtunitv of Governour Winthropa being there, to have the thing pubhckly pro- 
Kuded in the congregation; who in answer thereunto, d.slu,gu.shed between a 
rZ?« and a monW goodness ; adding, that when .lur.os wore l.rs used u. Kng- 
land U was usual for the erier, after tho nanies of persons l.l for that Bor^u-e were 
called over, to bid them all, "Attend good men and true; whence .t grc-w to be a 
civil custom in the English nation, for neighl>ours livmg by one another, to call one 
another "good man sueh an one;" and it was pity now to make a st.r about a c.vd 
c stom so innocently introduced. And that speech of Mr. W uithrop s put a last- 
ing stop to tho Uttle, idle, whimsical conceits, then begmnmg to grow obstreper- 
ous."* 

When the appellation Mr. had in New England bocomo somewhat com- 
mon, as it had become about the time of the settlen>ent of Harwmtun 
there was di.ssatisfaction felt by some. Thus, Rev. Ihomas Kuggles of 
Guilford, in this State, giving, about a century ago, a review of Us early 
times "^aid • " The first planters who came to the town were ot two 
rank-' viz such who in England are called gentlemen and commonahty 
None were poor men, and few or no servants. The gentlemen were all 
men of wealth, and they bear the appellation of Mr., as Mr. Desborow, 
etc while according to the plain customs of those times the commonali- 
ty were named only Goodman or Xdghb.jr, such or such an one. llow 
ereatlv are times now changed 1 Every man almost is called Mr. everv 
woman Miss [Mrs. ?], Madam or Lady. Popularity destroys all civil 

distinction."! „ . ,• •, j ^ ^i r 

This extension to the many of appellations once limited to the lew, 
has crone on elsewhere. Columbus and his heirs were by special letters 
fronfthe king of Spain, in 1492, "authorized to prefix the title of Don 
r Lord Mr ] to their names; a distinction accorded, in those days, only 
to persons of rank and estate, though it has since lost all value from be- 
in<r univer.^allv used in Spain."! . r , 

In this Slate, and in New England at large, one species of honorary 
appellations retained an especial significance long after the other vane- 
ties had lost their prestige, viz., military prefixes to names. Indeed, 
these titles have hardly yet, in some districts, lost their peculiar charms. 
Formcrlv "they were preferred to civil or ecclesiastical honors. A cor- 
poral was on the road to distinction. His oflice waa occasionally, but 
Jiot u^uallv, attached to his name. A sergeant had attained distinction 
and his title was never omitted. An ensign or a lieutenant was lilted 
quite above the heads of his fellows. A captain was ncce.ssarily a man 
of creat influence, whose opiiii.m was taken in all the weightv concerns 
of a town Few aspired to the exalted rank of a major. It was the 
reward of the most distinguished services."§ New England had no 
higher military office than capUin, for many years. ' Lt., 'Lns., and 

♦MaLTiali.^ I., B. II., Chap. IV'. 

fMass. Hi^t. Coll.. citc<l in Barber's Uist. ColL of Connecticut 

tirviug's Life of Tolumbua. 

g History of Watorbury. 



112 

even 'Corp.,' were nearly as suggestive as 'my Lord Coke's' noted 
' &;c.' was. 

Note 0., Page 32. 

Contests. 

Until that day, which with good reason is expected, shall have come, 
when men in general will be better than they are now ; diversities in 
views and feelings and opposition in action must, in every community, 
be expected. For the reason intimated on previous pages (, 65-6 in 
Note), a consideration of the later contests of a moral nature mainly, as 
pertaining to Harwinton, has been remitted to future times. A notice, 
as respects our citizens, of contests having, in the main, different occa- 
sions and a different character, is appropriate here. 

BOUNDARY QUESTIONS. 

This Town did not escape the controversies, regarding 'metes and 
bounds,' Avhich, with other troubles, all new Towns, in common with 
"High and Mighty States General," seem fated to share. On this point 
the following items appear. 

2*7 August. 1733. voated the Proprietors, at their own Cost, Shall Defend the 
Clerk from all Cost & Damage that Shall Eusue from His Neglect, In not Recording 
a Survey Signed by Judd & Bird Dated September 1-i^'' 1732 of T 5 acres of Land 
Lying between Farmington and Litchfeild, 12 acres of which lyeth East of the 
Lead mine Ilills & is Claimed by the Heirs of Deacon Standly; & that Mr Sam" 
AUyn Ens. Joseph Barnard & Mr Pelatiah Mills be a Com"''^ to Defend y" Clerk aa 
aforesd* 

1 Nov., 1737. Voted, that m' Zackariah Saymore & m' Samuel Moodey be 
agents for the Proprietors to Sharch the records a bout farmmgton bounds and to 
make returns to the next meetingf 

8 May, 1739. A petition was presented to the Legislature by "Zach- 
ariah Saymour, of Hartford, Daniel Messenger and Benjamin Catlin, of 
Harwinton," asking a Commission " for a survey and legal establishment 
of the west Une of Farmington."| — See more of this in the Town Rec- 
ords, Book I. 

CHANGE, AS TO SINGING, IN PUBLIC WOESHIP. 

About eighty years since, the introduction of a greater variety of 
tunes, and epecially of singing by choirs in Sabbath-day services, was 
an innovation which much disturbed the equanimity of many persons. 
The following record shows one thing, respecting that matter, which was 
done in Harwinton. 

4 June, 1776. Then Voted that the Last Singing on Each Sabbath may be per- 
formed without the Psalm being red line by line until the Next Anuel Society 
Meeting 

*West Harwinton Records. 
fEast Harwinton Records. 
^State Archives. 



Vutofl lliu tbllovvinK Tuiu-s aro < luly to l.o sun^ in the (•ongreKat...u riitil the 
Noxtaiiual Society Meeting-viz Canlorl.ury Mcar S' Marl.us New ^ •^'rl^/'y™- 
o.ith Ncvvl.urv Slandisl. Kalinoutl. rarra<lon [Panic,.,?! ^^ antago Putiioy UichmanH- 
wortl. SouthJmrv AnRcls llvmu 100 New Little Marlbury Aylesbury Dal«toi. 12i- 
St Hellius Laudan'New 50'^* 

So fur as appears, Harwiutoii had less of coiniiiotiuii, as to tins mat- 
tor than aid most other New Englaud towuH. At Simsbiiry, soon after 
a vote had been taken, April, 1773, " to sinj? on the Lord's day accord- 
iii^' to the rides taught in the Singing Schools in [that] and the neigh- 
l»onn'r Societies," "a teacher of music was employed. After-practising 
9om.-°time, he ajipeared with his scholars in church on a Sunday, and 
iho minister having announced the psalm, the choir, under the instruct- 
or's lead, started off with a tune much more lively than the congregation 
had lieen accustomed to hear. Upon which, one of the Deacons, Brew- 
ster lliglcv, took his hat and left the house,— exclaiming, as he passed 
down the "aisle,-" i^opery ! popery !" 'f In Athol, Ms., Mrs busannah 
Haven, aggrieved alwut tlie .«amc period, Feb., 1775, made ot her griev- 
ance a 'Tublic Declaration to the Church," in which she said: 

the Church aud Congrepation hath altered their manner of Singing; it hath 
Leon and is much to my Dissatisfaction and grief, as I am not able to sec i,ow the 
rontinning the Bass between the Lines of the Tenor, is consistent with Singing 
with the Si.iril and UiidcrsUnding also, as it appears to me tliat the Lnde^staDdlng 
„ulst be useless in that unnasarypart of the Sound; hut Considering this as no 
Kssontial part of our holy Religion, and y' I am Sensible y' I cant do any thing 
more than hath been done to reform what I Esteem Wrong in the manner of bing- 
ing I Ksteem it rav Duty in this public manner to Let you know what those things 
are'y' are griovou.s to me, and y' I wholly disapprove of m your bingmg.; 

Such 'straws' show how 'the whisthng wind' at that time 'blew'— 
from various quarters. 

WARS. 

As to the 'bloody strifes' in which our country has l)ecii involved, 
the following notices are given. 

V number of persons from llarwintoii, large as compared wilii tho 
pnpidation of the Town, were soldiers in what New Englanders term 
•ih.- old French war,' 175.V63. Somo of these, as ascertained in 183 <, 
were Charles Go.^dwin, Capt. Jacob Hinsdale, Timothy Homaston. Bc- 
■ noni Hough, Samuel Weston. Timothy Homaston, who hail been 
mider command of Gen. Amherst at the taking of Quebec, 175«». died, 
at iv very advanced age, in 1829. 

In the time of the great struggle which ' eventuated in securing our 
national indepeiid.nco, there were, tw is known, individuals in nearly 
all parts of the country who took a view of that struggle diflenng from 
that of the ma&» ol their fellow-citizen-. There is remembered but one 
siicli as having belonged to Harwinton. 

♦KAvUsiastical Soiiety Records, Book I. 

♦Phelps' History of Simsburj*. 

jClarke'a Centcnuial Discourso at AtUul, M». 

15 



114 

John Marsh, 3d, of LitchBeld, apphed [to the Governor and Council of Safety, 1 1 
Feb., lin,] for hberty to take Mark Prindle, of Harwinton, (a tory [then] at Mans- 
field,) and him have before the Court at Litchfield, in discharge of his bail bond, 
given for said Prindle in another case ; which was granted by the Governor and 
Council, witli their order to return said Prindle, after his trial, to Amariah WiUiams 
in said Mansfield.* 

In 1V81, Harv^rinton Avas subjected to a peualty of £15 for a deficien- 
cy of one man in the number of men required for the war.f 

Incidents of a difTerent character, as well as men more fitly represent- 
ing the Town at that period, were as given below. 

While the people here were on a Sabbath morning, 27 April, 1777, 
preparing to leave their homes for attendance on public worship, an ex- 
press arrived through Litchfield from Danbury, announcing that Gov. 
Try on with his troops, the 'cow-boys,' as they were contemptuously 
termed by the Americans, had come from New York to the latter place, 
Mr. (afterwards Dea.) Webster, after receiving fi-om the messenger the 
written message which was brought, gave it to Abraham Goodwin, for 
conveyance to New Hartford. He ran with it, 'post-haste,' one mile to 
Lt. Jonathan Goodwnn, whom he found strapping to his horse a side- 
saddle. The Lt., a man who generally required ample time for deliber- 
ation on even small matters and who otherwise was becomingly slow 
in his movements, now catching by a glance the purport of the docu- 
ment, exchanged his saddle in a trice and, urging his wonder-struck ani- 
mal into no inferior rate of speed, let something other than his "mode- 
ration be known." Harwinton soldiers, with others from this vicinity, 
immediately sped to Danbury, reaching that place, distant some forty- 
four miles, early on Monday morning; though not until after the British 
detachment had effected the object of their coming, by the destruction of 
the bread-stuffs and other military stores there deposited. INIr. Abraham 
Goodwin gave to the Avriter this account in 1837 ; saying, at that time, 
that his age was 83 years. He then resided in Harwinton. 

In IttS, Levi Monson, of Harwinton,:]: a sergeant in Capt. [Williamj Douglass' 
company, Col. [David] Wooster's regiment [, made declaration to the Legislature of 
this Colony, that he] was taken prisoner on the Isle of Montreal, carried to Quebec, 
and thence with [Amos?] Green, a soldier, and Col. Ethan Allen, to Falmouth in 
England, [and that he] returned from Falmouth to Halifax [, N. S.], about June 
29th, 1776.§ 

In the Town Records, for the years of the revolutionary contest, 
various details show the interest felt and the efforts made by this Town, 
regarding that endeavor. Many soldiers hence died by camp sickness 
and otherwise, though it has not been found that any from Harwinton 
were killed while fighting in the 'continental' army. In 1837 were liv- 
ing in Harwinton, and then receiving, as revolutionary soldiers, pensions 
from the national government, Simeon Barber, Lyman Clark, Darius 

♦Hinman's War of the Revolution. 

•j-State Archives. ^ 

IHinman's "War of the Revolution gives him as of Wallingford. 

sState Archives. 



115 

Foot Sila<. Grl.lloY, CJoor-o Jone., Bononi Johnson John Winchell. 
(Nalhnn Barnos, ..f the Hanvinton CVurrc/,, ros.de.l at New Hartford.) 

Soldieis from Ilamnnion, in 1775. 

Benjamin Bar})er, Saniuol Jon.'^on 

Simeon Barber, Pam"^^ Lambert, 

Timotl.v Barbor, He/okia . Leacli, 

Isaiah iintlcr, Jr.. (leorge^Loom.s, 

Solomon Bntlor, Hl'jal' L<)omis 

Abraham Catlin, James Oleut, Jr., 

Kli Catlin [, Lieut. ?], Hezek.ah Phclpn, 

(Phineha.s fatlin?), Oliver Pheli.3, 

Daniel Cook, i^amn^" ^^''^IP^. Jr., 

Jonathan Cook, Aslibel Porter, 

Jabe/. Frisbio, Josse Potter, 

Asa Griswuld, K"03 Scott, 

White Griswokl, ^'imn Skinner, 

Joseph C. Hawley, ^amue Wesson, 

AUyn llaydon, Samuel Wesson, Jr., 

George Jones, Abner W ilson. 
Christopher Jonson, 

Mmr!^.l if^n on Seirirein the Continental Army, from Harwinton, who, 8 ifarrh, 
\~ld, had received supplies fiom the Tmvn. 

RosweU Catlin, Eh.sha Hinsdale, 

Ozem ( ;ook, Samuel 1 1 uisdale, 

Caleb Elmore, Le' -^^al'^'l "^'^K'^' 

Tliomas Greene, ^'^IJ^V^P-hon e .» 

SethGri.Uev, Kthel [Itluel?] Scott, 

Joseph Harsied, Timothy Stedman, 

Joseph C. Hawley, Jama's Wilcox. 

" Who Kocth a warfare, at his own charges?" So rare a tiling it i.^ 
that the name ,.o/(/Hr originally inaicatcd one who .served another tor 
pav a stipendiary. Bnt how much lacked the above-named, with other 
'oldiers in like manner aided from other i.laces their own town.^ ot sen- 
i„.r at their own co.st ? In so far as they did this, in the war of the 
Vmerican Revolution, were not they in that as meritorious a^, for tliu.^ 
d„ing in the same contest, was the honored volunteer from I< ranee, La 

'"'^Benj! Catlin, Quarf" ' is given in the li.-^t of ^ Prisoners' o( "CxPT. 
irANUcmTTS roMi'ANV." as "of the American troops at Quehec, on 
,heSlM>cember. 1775.' -"A JOURNAL of a March from Cam- 
hriJ.r \ M^..l on ayi Erprdition against Quebec, in Coi.. Bknk.dict Ar- 
s.>,.p'.^^i)etacliment, Se/t. VX 1775 F, and on] : ke,.t by Jo.SKt.H Wabk 
of Needham, Ms.; ,.ub. iu N. E. }h:^. den. Reg Aprd, 1852. Thi.s 
Benjamin Catlin seems to have be.-n from (^t. ; and to have enlisted at 
some place other than llarwintoii. II- was, probably, son of Benjamin, 
Jr.. and grandson of Benjamin, Sen., nf llarw.nt.m. 



116 

Note P., Pagr 32. 
Ancient Houses. 

The house, which Capt. Messenger liuilt, stood near the site of that 
now belonging to the widow Irene Phelps. The house Avhich Dea. John 
Wilson built stood, in its last years a venerable ruin, near the one noAv 
owned by Mr. Sheldon A. Barber. Among the oldest houses now in 
Harwinton are those in which live Messrs. Loren Barber, Allen Birge, 
Ellis Burwell, Ephraim S. Cleveland, AYakeman G. Cook, Enos Frisbie, 
James Mather, Sheldon Pond, Addison Webster. To ancient dwellings 
attach many associations which are indeed "pleasant and mournful," but 
withal useful too. A Town whose homes are all new lacks one of the 
elements which connect the present with preceding generations. So far, 
the inhabitants of a place thus unhistorical will probably, as dissevered 
from them, be forgetful of ancestral ties. 

'The old stone house in Guilford,' Ct., dates from the founding of that 
Town in 1639. In Salem, Ms., founded in 162G, there stands in good 
state and modern form a wooden mansion which, brought to that city in 
1628 from a settlement then brokeniup at Cape Ann, had been con- 
structed and occupied by Roger Conant there in 1624. 

Note Q., Page 33. 

Harwin ton Organization. 

As it may interest some persons to see how tlie ' fathers of the Town ' 
transacted its business, the proceedings at the first Town Meeting, as 
copied from the record of the same, are given. 

Att a Meeting of the Jnliabitants of the town of Harwiton Legily Wornied to 
be at the hous of Jacob Bentons on december: — the : 20 : 1737 



Uoted that: M'' Daniel Messenger be Moderrator for this Meetins:- 



Uoted that Jacob Benton be town Clerk for the town of Harwinton for tlie year 
Ensuing 

Uoted that M'' Israel Marrimoun M"' Cyperan webster and W danicl Bro^\'n be 
towns men or select men for this town 

Uoted tliat liez hopkins ))e Constobel for s*" town for tlie year Ensuing 

Uoted that Samuel Phelps and Nathaniel ITatcli be Graniijurors for this town for 
the year Ensuing 

Uoted that Ebnezer Hopkins and Antony Horskin Be Suruej'ors of High ways 
for this Town 

Uoted that Jonathan Brace and thomas Bull be fence urewers for this town fur 
the year Ensuing 

Uoted that Samuell Barber and John "Wilson Be fence urewers for this town foi- 
the year Ensuing 

Uoted that Jacob Benton : Daniel Phelps and Samuel Messinger Be Listers for 
this town of Harwington for the year Ensuing 

Voted that Isral Marremoun be hrander of horsses and of hors Kind* for the lOM'ii 
of Harwington for the year Ensuing 

*There were, at that time, few enclosures. Horses ran at large. Hence brand- 
ing was necessary that stray animals might be reclaimed and identified. The new 
settlements had each its own mark prescribed ])y tlieHeneral Court. See. in Note 
H., page ]05 



117 

^A^r^r1 thftt Tacob Benton l)0 town troasurrcr fur tliis town ond that lie Be A 

ordered- and as there act and law tlirects 

Voted that the Select Men Make the tax Kale- for th. Ensn.nK year: 

Voti'd that Swine may hauo there hberty to Run at LarKe— 

Vote tn ll^s town jnvne with Litehlield to l.uild A Und^e «f /^"l*^"^" . 

[NauX^l ri-r I'-nided" they will heo at two thurds of the Cost-And we at but 

^"tlS t;^t^^:o;" >[o;St^Sii^r nopUlns .. a Co.n.eto to treat with 

'^ roS'ih^ u.e S;;;&s.s^ the ?:-^ >>-« -^^ -----^^ ^ 

yrieed to Build A Meteint; House for Dnnno \\ orsinp: ;- 

*^ Uoted t a the Place for A Poun.l for the tow.^e of llarwu.ton I'e "oar to M' «- 
real Merrilnan A-Bout the Sou-terline Betweeno the Proprietors of Hartford And 

''' Voteluii^tho Place for the Sine Post Shall Be att the Sentcr-Line Betweene the 
PrViotors of Hartford And Windsor Att the C.mterry ^7 " 77 ^„.,.. t i,,,. b.- 
Voted we agree thus that the Meeting House Shall be s.-t m l'^„^"^'^^/,;"";^^^, 
tween the Propriators of Hartford and Windsor Con-hshond that A^ u.dsor 1 ropru- 
o "i^le thdr^'roporshon of land Agreed for the 'Tneurr^tiu.nt of onr Muuu t^. 
and Pay half the rhoost boilding the Meetuig House and hall the. lOn. I oun.l 

■\trreed to crine the Ministor Jn Labour: . ,, ^ i„ah 

Voted tlmt if M' '.TosePh larrence [returns to liv,e- A" Mong ns and w<'rWs At 
the SmUhs trade he shall be freed from Paing of All towne and mnnstera rates and 

working att Highway for the S-Pace of flue years next Knsunig 

test Jacob Benton CU-rk: . 



Names of officers clioscn in ITarAvinton, from 17^,7 U> ISfiO, aro. witli 
other matters of organization, as follows : 



List of Officers. 

EAST IIARWIN'TON PROPRIKTOKS WKST HARWIKTON PROPRIKTOr's 

CI.KRK. 

I7;i2-3G. tit'orgi' Wylly.s. 
1730 & on. Jacob Benton. 



CI.KRK. 



17;!:i-ll. Kogt-r X.-wl)iir\. 
171.'. i*c on. Anlliony ITo^^kins. Jr. 



T<nVX CLERKS. 



17:;7- 

1741- 
175G- 
17GG- 
17G7- 
1773- 
1784 
17?<7- 



-41. 
5G. 
-GO. 
-G7. 
-73. 
-84. 
-87. 
-ISO:?. 



1803-20. 

is*J9-:m. 

1834. 



Jai-i)l» Benton. 
Cvprian Webster, 
Abijah Catling. 
Cvprian W.'bst.-r. Jr. 1S34. 
Daniel Catling. 1834-37. 

Nathaniel Bull. 1837-54. 

Ashbel Hodge. ' 18r>4. 

Danirl Catling. J r IS.'.I-GO. 



Elijah Gayloril. 
Joel (J. Candee. 
Dfunis r.-rkins. 
(Jayh.r.l Well.^. 
AVilliam C. Abernethy 
Antlrt'w Abfrnelliv. 
(J. B. MiU.r. 
L«'wiM Cntlin. Jr 



118 

SELECTMEN. 

1737. Israel Merriman, Cyprian "Webster, Daniel Brown. 

1738. Benjamin Catling, Daniel Messenger, Daniel Phelps. 

1739. Daniel Phelps, Daniel Messenger. 

1740. Jacob Hinsdale, Nathan Davis, Daniel Messenger. 

1741. Jacob Hinsdale, Daniel Phelps, Anthony Hoskins. 

1742. Jacob Benton, Jonathan Brace, Samuel Phelps. 

1743. Dea. Jacob Benton, John Wilson, Jonathan Brace. 

1744. Dea. Jacob Benton, Israel Merriman, Daniel Phelps. 

1745. Lt. Aaron Cook, Jacob Hinsdale, William Haydon. 

1746. Capt. Daniel Messenger, Samuel Phelps, Israel Merriman. 

1747. Jonathan Hopkins, Samuel Barber, Dea. Jacob Benton. 

1748. Sargt. Jacob Hinsdale, Dea. Jacob Benton, Sargt. Samuel Phelps. 

1749. Dea. Jacob Benton, Lt. Samuel Phelps, Capt. Jacob Hinsdale. 

1750. Jonathan Brace, John Wilson, Abijah Catling. 

1751. Ebenezer Hopkins, Daniel Bartliolomew, Ashbel Skinner. 

1752. Lt. Aaron Cook, John Wilson, Ens. Jonathan Hopkins. 

1753. Capt. Jacob Hinsdale, Jonathan Catling, Thomas Bull. 

1754. Dea. Jacob Benton, David Haydon, Jonathan Brace. 

1755. Lt. Nathan Davis, Lt. Jonathan Brace, Dea. Jacob Benton. 

1756. Abijah CatUn, Jr., Jonathan Butler, Samuel Barber. 

1757. Capt. Jacob Hinsdale, Stephen Rossiter, Jonathan Catling. 

1758. Jacob Benton, John Wilson, Jonathan Brace. 

1759. Capt. Jacob Hinsdale, Capt. Abijah Catlmg, Daniel Phelps. 

1760. William Haydon, Josiah Butler, Joel Catling. 

1761. Jonathan Brace, John Wilson, Abijah Catlmg. 

1762. Cyprian Webster, Daniel Catling, Daniel Bartholomew. 

1763. Ashbel Skinner, Capt. John Wilson, Lt. Jonathan Brace. 

1764. Ashbel Skinner, John Wilson. Jonathan Brace. 

1765. Ashbel Skinner, Capt. John Wilson, Lt. Jonathan Brace. 

1766. Samuel Cook, Jonathan Catling, Capt. Abijali Catling. 

1767. Jonathan Cathng, Samuel Cook, Abijah Catling. 

1768. Josiah Butler, Joseph Cook, Jesse Woodruff. 

1769. Josiah Butler, Joseph Cook, Jesse Woodruff. 

1770. Capt. John Wilson, Ashbel Skinner, WiUiam Haydon, Joel Catlin, Josiah 

Phelps. 

1771. John Wilson, Ashbel Skinner, William Haj'don, Joel Catling, Josiali 

Phelps. 

1772. John Wilson, Ashbel Skinner, WiUiam Haydon, Joel Catlin, Josiah 

Phelps. 

1773. Dea. John Wilson, WiUiam Haydon, Josiah Plielps, Joel Catlin, Mark 

Prindle. 

1774. Ashbel Skinner, Joseph Cook, Reuben Barber, Jacob Catlin, Eli Wilson. 

1775. Ashbel Skinner, Joseph Cook, Reuben Barber, Eli WUsou, Cj-prian 

Webster. 

1776. Uriah Hopkins, Joel CatUn, Samuel Cook, Elijah Haydon, Jacob Hinsdale. 

1777. Joel Catlin, Samuel Cook, Joseph Cook, George Catlin, Reuben Barber. 

1778. Joseph Cook, Ashbel Skinner, Reuben Barber, Josiah Phelps, Ezra 

Hinsdale. 

1779. Ashbel Skinner, Reuben Barber, Joseph Cook, Ezra Hinsdale, William 

Abernethy. 

1780. Ashbel Skinner, Reuben Barber, Joseph Cook, WiUiam Abernethy, Jacob 

CatUn, Ezra Hinsdale, EU WUson. 

1781. Reuben Barber, Joseph Cook, Mark Prindle, Josiah Phelps, Eli WUson. 

1782. Thomas Skinner, Mark Prmdle, Eli WUson, Abijah Catlin, Joseph Haydon. 

1783. Mark Prindle, Joseph Cook, EU WUson, Samuel Bald\vin, Reuben Barber. 

1784. Mark Prindle, Reuben Barber, Joseph Cook, Joseph Haydon, Samuel 

Baldwin. 



17, s... Kus. lioul,on Barber, Ll. Josoph Cook, Ll. Eli Wilson, lins. Mark ITiudle, 

178(5 aS Callin, Reuben Barber. Joseph Cook, Mark rrmdlo, Kh Wdso .. 

787 Kli W Iscm. Reuben Barber, Klijah llaydon Joseph (ook, Abner \y .-„. 

\]ll: Reuben Barber, Josq^h Cook, I-IU Wilson, A^.nerJV^dso^Ab^..C^^ 

1780. 



^S SS^^nj^n GdswoH Joseph Cook, Charles Prindle, Isaae 



171.0 Jo^-S'cook, Josiuh rhelps, Abnor Wilson. Klijah Ilaydon, Kli Wilson. 
17<»1. Josiah Phelps, Klijah Haydon, Benjamin bnswold. 

1702 Josiah Phelps, Klijah Haydon. i.i,„l„= 

Uh Joseph Cook, kli Wilson, Benjamin Griswold, James Brace, Josnih 1 helps. 

94" Josefh Cook Josiali Phelps, Eli Wilson, Jan.es Brace, Be nj a nun Gnsv^old^ 

795 Josilh Phelps, Benjamin Griswold, Eli Wilson, James Brace, Abner W dson. 
nit. JoJiah Phelps, Kh Wil.son, James Brace, Benjamm Gnswold, felephen 

Graves. 
17'.)7 Daniel Wilson, James Bartholomew. 
1798. Josiah Phelps, David Candeo, Benjamin Gnswold. 

1709. Benjamin Griswold, Lewis Catlin, Kh Wilson. 

1800 Benjamin Griswold, Lewis Catlin, Azariah Kellogf-. .Ir. 

1801 Benjamin GriswoM, Lewis Catlin, Azanah Kellogg, Jr. 

1802. Benjamin Griswold, Lewis Catlin, Azanah Kellogg, Jr. 

1803. David Candee, Aziiriah Kellogg, Lewis Cathn. 

1804. Benjamin Griswold, I^wis Catlin, David Candee. 

1805. lA'wis Catlin, Benjamin Griswold. David Candee. 

1H06 David Candeo, Benjamin Griswold, Doct. Tnnothy I lark. 
1807 Doot. Timothy Clark, Daniel Holt, Jonathan Rossiter. 

1808. Doct. Timothy Clark. Daniel Holt, David Candee. 

1809. Doct. Timothv Clark, Major Cyprian Webster, Daniel Holt. 

1810. David Candee, Jonathan Rossiter, John Hungerford. 
V- 1811. Doct. Timothy Clark, Israel .'^mith. John Bull 

V 1812. John Bull, Israel Smith, William C. Aberncthy. 
U 1813. John Bull. Joel Bradley. William C. Abernethy. 

1814 William C. Abernothv. Daniel Holt. David Candee. 

1S15. William C. Aberncthy, Daniel Holt, Roswell Alford. 

ISIG. Israel Smith, Kli Wilson, James A. Perkins 

1817. William C. Abernethv. Daniel Holt, Kh W'll.son. 

1818 Uriah Hopkins, Roswell Alford, James A. Perkins. 

1819. Uriah Hopkins, Stephen A. Clark, William C. Abernelliv. 

1820. Uriah Hopkin.s, William C. Abernethy, Israel Smith. 
1821 John S. Pre.otou. William C. Abernethy, Noah Welton. 
IS'"' William C. Abernethv, Uriah Hopkins. John S. Preston. 

1823. Uriah Hopkins. William C Abernethy, John S. Preston. 

1824. Marvin Griswold, Uriah Hopkins, Roswell Alford. 

1825. Roswell Alford. Thomas Perkins. Jeremiah H.ilt. 

1826. Roswell Alford, Uriah Hopkins, Abijah Webster. 

1827. Stephen Wilson. Thomas Perkins, Pluneha.s W. ^oblc. 

1828. Elijah Gnvlord, David Wilson. Jeremiah Holt. 

1829. David Wi'lson, Jonathan Rossiter, A.saliel Hooker. 

1830. David Wil.son. Asjihel Ibwker, Asahel N. Barber. 

1831. David Wilson, Asahel Hooker, Asah.l N. Barljcr. 

1832. Abijah Webster, Augustus S. Johnson. U'vi B. Dunbar. 

1833. Abijah WebsU?r, Julius Alford, Moses Beach. 

1834. Lynian Perkins, John Bull, Jr., Allen Birge. 

1835. John Bull. Jr., Allen Birg«, J(K'l Gridley. 

1836. Joel (Jridley, .lonathan Rossiter, Bnidley Catlin. 

1837. Joel (Jritlley. Bradley Catlin, .' • •' " "dfh. 

1838. Bradley Ca'tlin, David Wilson, "' !»• 

1839. David Wil.son, Mo.s<'s Bea«h. (, : . 'Her. 

1840. Moses Beach. Asahel N. Barber. 

1841. Chauncvy Potter, Gardner PreslOD, Solomou Barker. 



120 



1842. Solomon Barker, Orriu Barber, Horatio L. WhiUiiore. 

1843. Solomon Barker, Orrin Barber, Horatio L. 'Whitmore. 

1844. Solomon Barker, Orriu Barber, Horatio L. Whitmore. 

1845. Moses Beach, Adin Phelps. 

1846. Sheldon Osborn, William S. Goodsell. 

1847. Sheldon Osborn, Horatio L. Whitmore. 

1848. Abijah Webster, Orson Barber. 

1849. Orson Barber, Addison Webster. 

1850. William S. Goodsell, Auson Candee, Jr. 

1851. Roswcll Cook, John S. Preston. 

1852. James Ailing, Thomas 0. Davis. 

1853. James Ailing, Samuel S. Catliu. 

1854. Samuel S. Cathn, Joseph Fenn. 

1855. Addison Webster, Charles H. Barber. 

1856. Augustus Alford, Charles Wilcox. 
185'?. Charles WUcox, RosweU Cook. 

1858. Sheldon G. Catlin, Lyman Perkins. 

1859. Juhus Catliu, Charles H. Barber. 



REPRESENTATIVES. 



1757. Capt. Abijah Catliug, 
Capt. Jacob Hinsdale. 

1758. Dea. Jacob Benton, 
Capt. Jacob Hinsdale. 

1759. Capt. Abijah Catling, 
Daniel Catling. 

1700. Capt. Abijah Catling, 
Daniel Catling. 

1761. Capt. Jacob Hinsdale, 
Capt. Abijah Catling. 

1762. Capt. Abijah Catling. 

1763. Daniel Catling. 

1764. Abijah Catlin, 
Daniel Catlin. 

1765. Capt. Daniel Catliu, 
Joel Catlin. 

1766. Abijah Catlin, 
George Catliu. 

1767. George Cathn. 

1768. Abijah Catlin, 
Daniel Catlin. 

1769. Capt. Abijah Catliug, 
John Wilson. 

1770. Maj. Abijah Catliu, 
Daniel Cathn. 

Oct. 1770. Maj. Abijah Catliu, 
Josiah Phelps. 

1771. Maj. Abijah Catliu, 
Josiah Phelps. 

1772. Joseph Phelps, 
Abijah Catliu. 

1773. Josiah Phelps, 
Capt. John Wilson. 

1774. Josiah Phelps, 
Mark Prindle. 

1775. Capt. John Wilson, 
Josiah Phelps. 



1770. 
1777. 
1778. 
1779. 
1780. 
1781. 
1782. 
1783. 
1784. 
1785. 
1786. 
1787. 
1788. 
1789. 
1790. 
1791. 
1792. 
1793. 



John Wilsou. 
Josiah Phelps. 
Josiah Phelps, 
t!.yprian Webster. 
John Wilson, 
Daniel Catliu. 
Joseph Cook, 
Daniel Cathn. 
Josiah Phelps, 
Joseph Cook. 
Josiah Phelps, 
Capt. George Catlin. 
George Catlin, 
Josiah Phelps. 
Josiah Phelps, 
George Cathn. 
George Catlin, 
Josiah Phelps. 
Mark Prindle, 
Joseph Cook. 
Mark Prindle, 
Joseph Cook. 
Abner Wilson, 
Josiah Phelps. 
Joseph Cook, 
Eli Wilson. 
Mark Prindle, 
Josiah Phelps. 
Josiah Phelp.s, 
Col. Abner Wilsou. 
Josiah Phelps, 
Abner Wilsou. 
Josiah Phelps, 
Daniel Catlm. 
Josiah Phelps, 
Daniel Cathn. 



121 



17D1. JosK-ih Pliflps. 

Daniel C'atlia, Jr. 
1795. Josiah Phelps. 

Ahner Wilsou. 
I 7 fir,. .Tosiah Pliolps, 

Danifl Catliii. 
I7'.»7. Paiiicl Catlin. 

.rallies Hracc. 
1708. Daniel Catlin, 

Janien Braeo. 
17:tf). Daniel Catlin, 

.Tames Brace. 

1800. rianicl Catlin. 
James Brace. 

1801. Daniel Catlin. 

f •• No .second relnrned. 
1 so'J. Daniel Catlin, 

James Brace. 
180:!. James Brace. 

Timothy Clark, Jr. 
1 SO 1. James Brace, 

Timothy Clark, Jr. 

1805. James Brace, 
Benjamin Griswoli.1. 

1806. James Brace. 
Benjamin Griswold. 

1807. James Brace. 
Benjamin GriswoUi. 

1 808. James Brace, 
Benjamin Griswold. 

1 809. James Brace, 
Benjamin Griswold. 

1810. Timothy Clark, 
.Toel Bradley. 

1811. Timothy Clark, 
Joel Bradlov. 

1812. Timothy Clark. 
Benjamin Griswold. 

181.".. .Tames Brace, 

Benjamin Griswold. 
1811. James Brace, 

Cyprian Webster. 
I81.'i. Cyprian Webster, 

Joel Bradley. 
I81G. Cyprian Webster. 

William C. Abomethy. 

1817. William C. Al>cmothy. 
I'riah Hopkins. 

1818. William C. Abemothy, 
Uriah Hopkins. 

1819. William C. Abonietliy. 
Knos Frisbie. 

1 820. Triah Hopkins, 
William C. Aljernetliy. 

1821. Kli Candoc, 
Mar\in Griswold. 

1822. Eli Candeo, 
John S. Preston. 

16 



1823. Uriah Hopkin.^ 

Marvin (Jriswold. 
1821. Uriah Hopkins, 

Marvin (Jriswold. 
1825. Uriah Hopkins, 

John S. I'restoii. 
182G. Marvin Griswold. 

Jtoswell Alford. 

1827. Phinehas \V. Noble. 
Noah Weltoii. 

1 828. Phinehas W. Noble, 
Noah Welton. 

182'.». David Wilson, 

Marvin ftriswold. 

1830. David Wilson, 
Jeremiah Holt. 

1831. Jeremiah Holt. 
Marsin Griswold. 

1 832. Gaylord Wells. 
Asahel Hooker. 

1833. Gaylord Wells, 
Abijah Webster. 

IS.M. Abijah Webster. 
Chester N. Case. 

1 835. Aujrnstus S. Johnson, 
Lj-mau Perkins. 

1836. Augnstus S. John.soii. 
Andrew Alwmethv. 

1837. Abijah Catlin, 
Andrew Abernethv. 

1838. Abijah Catlin, 
Sheldon Osborn. 

1839. Abijah Catlin, 
Slieldon Osborn. 

1810. Allen Birgo, 

Abijah Catlin. 
1841. Allen Birge. 

Moses Beach. 
1812. Moses Beach, 

Asahel N. Barber. 
»- 181.3. Asahel N. Barber. 

John Bull. 
V 1844. John Bull. 

Phinehas W. Xoblo. 

1845. Phinehas W. Noble. 
Augustus S. Johnson 

1846. Gardner Preston, 
Augustus S. Johnson. 

1847. Ganlner Preston, 
Sheldon G. Cathn. 

1848. Jeremiah Holt, 
Sheldon G. Catlin. 

1849. Jeremiah Holt, 
Philo Hall. 

1850. Daniel Hinman, 
Phinehas W. Noble. 

1851. David A. Wilson, 
Abijali Catlin. 



122 

1852. Lewis Callio, Jr., ]857. Horace Wilsou. 
Samuel S. Catlm. Addison Webster. 

1853. James Alliug, 1858. Wolcott Hinsdale, 
William Knox. William Wilson. 

1854. Charles Wilcox, 1859. Julius Catlin, 

Hart Barker. Charles Hubert Barljer. 

1855. Augustus S. Johnson. 1860. Charles M. Wilson, 
Alpliouso Candee. George Gridley. . 

1856. Lewis Catlin, Sen., " ' 
Thomas E. Candee. 

COUKTY COMMISSIONEK. 
1 859-60. Augustus S. Johnsou. 

CllIEK JUDGE OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY COURT. 
1844-45. Abijah Catlin. 

.STATE SEXATOKS. 

1838-40. Andrew Abernethy. 1844-45. Aljijah Catlin. 

1859-60. Sheldon Osborn. 

COMMISSIONEK OF THE SCIIOOL FUND. 
1851-52. Abijah Catliu. 

COMl^TKOLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. 
1847-50. Abijah Catlin. 

EXECUTIVE SECRETAKY. 
1831-33. George S. Catliu. 

SECRETARY OF THE STATE. 
1735. George Wyllys.* 

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR. 
1858-60. Julius Catliu.f 

To the Convention, held at Hartford, January, 17S8, by which was 
ratified the Constitution of the United States, were : 

Delegates from Harwinton. 

Abner WUson, Marlv Prindle. 

To the Convention, held at Hartford, August, 1818, l)y which was 
formed the Constitution of Connecticut, were : 

Delegates Jrom Harw iniun . 
James Brace, Uriah Hopkins. 

♦Resident subsequently at Hartford, he held the office until 1796. 
f Originally of Harwinton, but in very early life of Litclifield, and since of Hart- 
ford. V 



i2n 



I'ROBATK COrUT OF IIARWIXTOX. 

The Probate business of Harwinton was fiimierly transjicted at Litcli- 
tield. The Probate District of Litchfield, cstaljlished 1 747, included, with 
Litchfield and Harwinton, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Kent (of which 
Warren then was a part), Norfi;ilk, Salis))ury, Sharon, Torrington, and 
'the land>', on the west side of the Hoysatnnic river, between New 
Fairfield and Sharon." 

Harwinton was constituted a Probate District. i)i IS.T.'). For the 
Probate District of Ifarwinton have been: 



Jioh/r.t nj Prohute. 



1835-38. Bcnajah Havdoii. 
1838-42. Abijah Catlfii. 
1842-14. Benajah llaydoii. 
l8-t4-46. I^wis Smith. 
1846-47. Martin Cook. 2«1. 



1817-50. Lcwi3 Smitli. 
1850-51. Martin Cook, 2a. 
1851-52. Lewis Smith. 
1852-56. Moses Beacli. 
1855-60. Lewis Smitli. 



HARWINTON MUTUAL KIUK INSURANCK COMPANY 
"Was orpjinized, July, 1 856. Its officers have been : 

Phiiiehas W. X<i1'lc. Aiipiiatus S. Johnson. 

Srrrclfi'i'i'"^. 
Addison "Weli.ster. CliaH.^ TT. Barhor. 

Trensiirerx. 
Charles M. Wilson. Paviil A. "Wilson. 



XOTK K., Pagk ?,?,. 

One Hundred Years Ago. 

Appropriate to the occasion which suggested the 'first scries' of the 
•historical collections' of Harwinton, would have been the lines which 
follow. They are .scarcely les.s so to that of the present '.series.' E.x- 
cept the substitution of 'One Hundred ' for 'Two Hundred,' with one 
or two other slight changes ; they are the same a.s were sung at the 
" Celebration of the Two-hundredth Anniversary of Middlctown," Ct., 
1.3 Nov., 18')0. 

OIJK. 

One Himdred Years af.'o here, the Aiitnnui leaves wore falling, 
.\nd the wf)ods to ttoo<ls wore callinj; hero, One Hundred Years ago; 
And their roaring sonnd.s, like thunder, made the forest seekers woudor, 
When stirred by bla.st,s of Aut\imn winds, One Hundretl Years ago. 

One Hundrvd Years ti^\ there were Indian footsteps roaming 
O'er the hills: they hoard them coming' hero, One Hundred Years ajp; 
They were on the.se ' Western Ijinds." tl'ey were (HiafTmp at the fountains, 
Ami were wending hither h'lmeward liorc. One Hundred Years ago. 



124 

Oue Hundred Years ago here, the deer were wildly bounding, 
And the partridge wing-drum sounding here. One Hundred Years ago : 
On the tree-tops gailj'^ prancing, was the merry squirrel dancing, 
At his prey the wolf was glancing here. One Hundred Years ago. 

One Hundred Years ago, here there flowed a pleasant river, 
And its finny tribes were sporting here. One Hundred Years ago : 
And like God, the glorious giver, this same water faileth never. 
But is passing now as ever here, One Hundred Years ago. 



Note S., Page 33. 
Indians in Hariointon. 

As mentioned previously (, in Note C, page 99), "the Western 
lands," what is now Litchfield county, appear, at the time when the 
English first made settlement in Connecticut, to have been owned and 
occupied by Indians as simply a territory for hunting and occasional res- 
idence. As also there appears, the Indians, to whom such ownership 
and occiipancy of these lands pertained, were mainly or wholly of tlie 
tribe which was at Farmington, that is, the Tunxis. 

The Windsor, Ct., Indians " seem to have gradually removed [first] 
to Farmington, [then to] Salisbmy and Sharon [, in Ct.], where in 1730 
they became miited with the remnants of the Simsbur}-, Farmington, 
Wethersfield and other Connecticut River tribes; and finally, in 1763, 
[these all] were removed to Stockbridge, Ms. About the year 1786, 
by invitation of the Oneidas they moved to Stockbridge, N. Y. Here, 
on a tract three miles long by two miles in breadth, granted to them by 
the hospitable Oneidas, they, together with a number from the Mohegaii 
and other tribes of Connecticut, formed a tribe called the Brothertons. 
Their first pastor was Sampson Occum, a native of Mohegan, who re- 
moved to New York State with them, and [who] died there in 1792. 

In 1834 they commenced, together with the Stockbridge tribe, to em- 
igrate to Calumet County, Wisconsin. By 1840, there Avere 300 of 
the Brotherton and 230 of the Stockbridge Indians in the County, and 
[they] had commenced to build saw [mills] and grist mills. In 1839, 
the Brothertons obtained the rights of United States citizenship. In 
1850 they numbered 400 out of a population of 1746 in Calumet Coun- 
ty, where they now form a large civilized and prosperous community.'"* 
One of the number, Joseph Pitchlynn Folsom, graduated at Dartmouth 
College, in 1854. 

An Indian, who liad been at an early age taken into the family of 
Rev. Joshua William.s, was living here, unmarried, and was apparently' 
about fifty years of age, in 1837. He was called 'a Stockbridge Indian.' 
Of whatever tribe he was, he seemed of unmixed Indian descent. He 
was ycleped Adonijah Chops. When by the writer asked to tell his 
name, he gave utterance to only the latter member of it, which he jerked 
out in a sort of oral explosion that may be represented by Hceeawpsiz 
uttered in a monosyllable. This surname seems to be an Indian appella. 

*TVi9Consiu Hist. Soo.'s Collet. I. Cited in Hist, of Ancient Windsor. 



12."» 

lion. Choji.i \» oi\ an Indian dceil lolating to Deiliy (, I'angassot), IGCi. 
Chitp sold land at New Milford, 1005. Chob and John Cfiob were In- 
dian?, witnesses to n deed at ^\'oodb^u•v, 1728-0. One of the Tunxid 
Indians, who hv deed conveyed Mattatnc (, Waterhury,) to Farniing- 
tfin people, 1074, was (literately) named ^lMy)/i7. Auj)cs or Aiips was 
one of the Tiinxis Indians, who by deed conveyeil Massaeo (, Simshury), 
lOSO, to certain iiihahitants of AV'^indsor. 

In IS.'IO. at Ilarwinton, there lived in tin- writers' family a girl, then 
eleven years old. Lydia Femberton. and at the same time in a Mr. 
Dowd's family an older brother to .said girl. Of these children, both ol 
indisputably Indian form and features, whose mother was a white woman 
sail! to be of Litchfield (South Farm.'!, now Morris), the father, repre- 
sented as a fidl-blooded Indian, was called *a ^lohegan or Narragan- 
set.' His surname, Pemberton, which has a Boston, Ms., .sound, inti- 
mates him, too, to have been a Tun.xis; as it suggests that its applica- 
tion to him might have been in some way a consequent from the con- 
nection which, in 1731, Benjamin Pemberton of Boston, Ms., had with 
the copper mines at Sinisbury.* 

It may be doul)ted whether any Tuiixis Indian survives in this vicin- 
ity. It was in 1840 stated, at Farmington, that "the only surviving 
female of that tribe stood trembling by the grave" in which she saw 
buried the last male c»f pure Tunxis blood, 'Jl Dec, 1820. It should 
have been on tliot day, it was on the 22 Dec, 1820, that, at Plymouth, 
Ms., there was celebrated jubilantly a bicentennial commemoration; and, 
as a befitting part of the intellectual festivities to New Englanders, New 
Fnglaml's then foremost orator pronounced near 'the rock,' so long hal- 
lowed, the words, since so celebrated, of his Address on the Landing of 
the Pilgrims. Decadence and cadences: 'Remarkable coincidence.' 

Mr. DeForest (, fit name for his theme), in his History of the Indians 
of Connecticut, says : " At the present time [, 1850,] they [the TunxisJ 
have all disappeared from their ancient home. One miserable creature, 
a man named Mossock,f still lives in Litchfield, perhaps the sole remnant 
of the tribe." Rev. Joel Grant, ii^ his Centennial Sermon at Avon, Ct., 
1851, .said: ''It is not known that more than one descendant of the 
[Tunxis] raie is now living," "Manasseth,f sentenced for participating 
in the murder of Baniice "White, of Colebrook." "lie is in the State's 
Prison, his .sentenci) of death, for murder, having been commuted to irn- 
pri.sonnient for life." Mr. Orant well added: "This whole matter of 
'last deseendant.s' is believed to be very uncertain." — ' Indians ' who 
came from the vicinity of Stockbridge, Ms., lived recently in (iuilford. 
Ct. By one of their company, a halflireed, a man 'towards seventy ' 
years old in 1850. intelligent, surnamotl Madison, the statement was 
made that his father, whom some public busine.s8 had brought into "Wes- 
ten\ Ma.ssachusett.s 'in the revolutionary war,' was a brother of James 
Madison, President of the United States. As well ludicroas as lugu- 
brious has become the once tender wail : " Who is there left to mourn 
for Logan?" — each 'Logan' being " c jilurtbus unum." 

♦Hiatorj- of Simsbtinr. fThcso, the Homo ninn. con in 18C0 quote: •! vet live." 



126 

Note T., I' age ?,3. 
Wild Animals. 

In our territory, as in that of the Towns in its vicinity, wild animals 
formerly wore abundant. Deer, long after this Town was settled, were 
common. They were here less numerou?, howevei', than at Simsbury ; 
where 'venison was for many years a cheaper food than pork, or beef, or 
mutton ;' they were probably more numerous than at Goshen and "Wa- 
terbury. In the very rigorous winter of 1779-80, many deer perished 
in Harwinton, from inability of getting at food. Those which were in 
that winter killed by hunters here, were in so emaciated a condition that 
their value was solely for their skins. Since that time, no deer have 
been found here, — The severity of the winter referred to was, twenty 
years ago, often described by aged men. Snow fell during forty days 
in succession. It lay four feet deep, even in March, covering fences, and 
had then become so hard that horses and oxen travelled easily on its sur- 
face. For weeks, at an earlier period, all travel, except by men using 
snow-shoes, had been suspended. At Goshen, snow-shoes were that 
winter in such demand that horses were killed to obtain, from their raw 
hides, materials for making those then indispensable articles. 

Whether wild cats were seen or killed in Harwinton, does not appear. 
So late as 1760, a bounty for killing animals of that sort was offered in 
Waterbury. In 1S56, one was killed at North Guilford; one, weighing 
twenty-three pounds, was caught in a trap, Nov., 1858, at Winchester ; 
another was caught at Plymouth, 15 Jan., 1859. 

A century ago there were wolves in this region. At Goshen, a pre- 
mium was given for destroying them, and Jacob Beach there destroyed 
four in one year and received therefor £16. The same man, in another 
year, there captured, in traps and otherwise, seventeen bears. In * May, 
1783, the town of Harwinton being, of late, greatly infested with wolves, 
the General Assembly awarded a bounty of forty shillings to Frederick- 
Phelps of said Town, for killing a full-grown wolf.' 

Bears have been much more commoji, in tliese parts, than was desira- 
ble, though probably less so than at Goshen where, within a century, 
'an old hunter [, as above noticed,] would oflen fall in with one, and 
where they made havoc in wheat-fields and corn-fields, and sometimes 
of herds of swine.' About a hundred years ago, a bear showed himself 
in Harwinton, near the house, now demolished, in which Mr. Nathan 
Davis then lived, and which Mr. Thomas C. Davis lately owned. The 
locality was then, even more than recently, secluded. The day being 
Sabbath, Mrs. Davis was in the house alone. Bruin incautiously sur- 
veying the premises, in nearer proximity to them than Mrs. Davis chose 
to allow, she, though certainly not ' a marksjnaw,' seized her husband's 
well-loaded trusty musket, and, incontinent, laid the beast dead. Some- 
what more than sixty years since, a bear was pursued in the wood east 
of Jacob O. Catlin's, Esq., but the animal escaped. About fifty years 
since, another bear was seen, near the house in which the late Mr. David 
Wilson lived. Not far from the same time, one was captured in the gai'- 
den pertaining to a house, then occupied by Mr. Roger Cook who after- 



127 

wards was a liiviTiicr al Litchfield, tlif 8iiih11 l>rowii lioiisc cast of iho 
blacksmith's shop, in this village. This is not more remarkable than 
that, in 17GG, when bears were ravaging fields and destroying sheep 
and swine in the Towns near Hartford, one. was killed in ' the Main 
Street ' <>f that plan-. 

NoTii U., Paoj: .'J 7. 
Mineralogy of Harivinton. 

NeitluT '•Alit'iMjii on the Geological Survey of I'oiuH'clicut," nor 
any similar work that has been consulted, refers specifically to mhieral 
deposits, or even to sporadic chance-found mineral specimens, in Ilarwin- 
ton. "While we would not, without very great diffidence, venture to in- 
limate that such omission indicates some degree of remissness in research, 
tm the part of 'exploiters' and savans, we must regret that this, at least 
an a)>parent deficiency, imposes on us the necessity of either letting the 
world remain ignorant ol the mineralogical riches of our territory, or 
making report of them ourselves. Tlie latter course we have (as with- 
out a choice) chosen ; so with becoming modesty we j)roceed to the 
work. .\s the subject involved is extensive, it will be conveniently set 
forth in distinct categories. 

i. Antimony. \ stalemeni was nuide, about 1812-17, to the effect 
I hat there was in Harwinton a 'locality ' of 'antimony,' singularly 
' pure,' e.xisting in 'blocks' of massive size. The locality was alfinued 
to be, in a direction 'north-east of the Meeting-house,' upon land then 
owned by Lewis Catlin, »Sen., Ks(|. The originator of the statement 
exhibited large jiieces of the mineral kind mentioned, which, as he said, 
were taken by him froiu that locality. Some of those pieces he gave to 
a young gentleman of Harwinton who, at the time, was a member of 
Yale College. Through this latter person these pieces came into the 
hands of scientific men, some of whom posted hither, and, with as great 
s\iccess as, by those who well know the originator of the statement, coidd 
have been expected, made search lor the mitieral in place. It is said 
that a distinguished I'rofessor of Mineralogv, who not long since de- 
ceased, inserted smuic account of Harwinton 'native antimonv ' in a text- 
book which he |iublished ; and that anothej- ilislinguished I'rofessor, yet 
living, did the like in a .scientific Journal V>y him edited. The writer of 
this Note has not felt strongly encouraged to verify the accuracv of the 
.saying. The person who set allnat the statement and oxhil>ited the spe- 
cimens, tised to aflirm with much decision, that 'he woidd never diiJclose 
the locality,' whence he ol)taincd the specimen.s 'so long as a certain 
person,' in Harwinton then, 'siirvived.' He made no other explanation, 
if indeed this waslany. He afterwards did, however, vouchsafe to vary 
his decision so far as, about 1830, to state, significantly, that ' he never 
liad told where the treasure lay, and he iww thought it hardly worth the 
while to tell.' As he died without <leigiung to make disclosure, no help 
save that of sheer re- 'discovery' will avail towards laying hands or set- 
ting eyes on ' native antimony ' found naturally here. 



128 

2. Blxck Lead. One uf tiie earliest visiturs to Connecticut River 
carried back to Massachusetts, in 1633, "some black lead, whereof the 
Indians told him there was a whole rock."* The General Court of Mas- 
sachusetts, granted to John Wintlirop, Jr., in 1644, " the hill at Tantousq 
[, Sturbridge, Ms.], about sixty miles westward from Boston, in which 
the black lead mine is." In company with Mr. Winthrop, " Mr. Wil- 
liam Payne and Capt. Thomas Clarke, of Boston, employed men to work 
[there] at the black lead mine, in 1657, 1658, and 1659," &c. In the 
records of Windsor, Ct., is noticed in the 17th century, " a path near the 
mountains leading to the [black ?] lead mines."f It was just at this 
time, as hereinabove (, p. 100,) noticed, that the Indians sold to white 
men so much at least of our territory as contains " the hill from whence 
John Standley and John Andrews brought the black lead." Now Stur- 
brido^e, Ms., is farther from Hartford, and from Farmington, than Har- 
winton is ; and it is, as compared with Harwinton, in about an opposite 
geographical direction from those places ; yet the sequel of this Note will 
probably show some connexion of the above recited facts with the ' min- 
eralogy ' and with the history of Harwinton. 

John Wintlirop, Jr , in 1657 Grovernor of Coimecticut as well as 
worker of the Sturbridge, Ms., "black lead mine," was an eminently 
scientific man whose influence was at that time felt in stirring up a spirit 
of research for mineral discoveries within the territory whose chief mag- 
istrate he was. The Indians, who employed black lead to paint their 
faces, knew that it had with the English a higher value than it had with 
themselves. The same motive that led Wahquimacut, a Connecticut 
River Sachem, to hold forth to the people of Massachusetts and Ply- 
mouth, in 1631, the value to them of Connecticut River lands as supplying 
maize and furs ; probably led Kepaquamp, Querrimus, and Mataneagc, 
Indian possessors of "Matetacoke [Mattatuc]," to represent to the Far- 
mington people the value to- them of " Matetacoke " as able to furnish 
to them " black lead." Those three ' speculators in wild lands' doubtles.-; 
made there all ' the deposit ' of that mineral which this locality ever con- 
tained. From such an artificial, not from any natural, stores of the min- 
eral there, were Messrs. Standley and Andrews supplied on their visiting 
"y^ hill." The language respecting them, as concerned with the "black 
lead " is : "They ])rought Ijie black lead." It is not said that they 
'duo-' the article. It is not said that they even 'got* it, indeed. They 
■tnight " dig and carry away " — as much as they could find there. This 
was the right which the Indians sold and which the Farmington people 
liouo-ht of the Indians. Of whom was obtained the 'specimen lot,' does 
)\ot appear. Alack, alack, too late is it now to make farther inquiry who 
sold or who gave to the Farmington people that ' hlAcJc lead.' By some 
wondrous 'alchymy,' was it transmuted into hhce lead? or did it not 
rather (?) become , 

3. Block Lead. Whether it was by ' projection ' operating such a 

*Winthrop's Journal, I. 

|N. E. His. Gen. Reg., Ap., 1856. 



12S> 

substitution, or froiii iljf iiioio Jiuilo chaii^o of a into o, cannot witli 
certainty be said ; but after tlie thought ol blAck lead being native hen; 
had been rehiKjuishod, llicro was induli;cd, in minds strong enoufrh lor 
■juch a mental feat, a more than supposition that l)]()ck lead existed with- 
in our boundaries. Lead-mine Brook, which Mows through the valley 
just west of our village, was so denominatcil as early as Oct., ll'.i'I. 
The •• West Harwinton " records, in that year, designate it by that name. 
Traditions which, traced back to nearly that time, had, no doubt, a much 
earlier origin, asserted that, in the high lands situated in the eastern and 
southern portions of the township, that is within the territory lying north 
of Xorthburv (, Plymouth,) and between the head waters of the Pequa- 
buck River, viz., the land somewhat north-east of the mouth of Lead- 
mine Brook, there existed a vast aggregation of lead in a natural condi- 
tion so pure as to bo malleable without previous fusion. Some persons, 
among the first settlers here, are said to have stated that the Indians 
gave to them accounts of this mass of block lead ; and others, that 
"they had seeJi it," rock-like and huge in form, "with their orrn eyes." 
Mr. Joseph Merriman, whose general veracity was imquestioned, did, 
report says, '• cut oft" and bring home " large solid ingots of this petri- 
form treasure. These ho molded into '' bullets, which he found excel- 
lent ' fur purposes of musketry. This circumstance led him, some time 
afterwards, to resolve, — as naturally as, regarding another matter, did the 
man whom a chapter in the Proverbs descril)es as one '* that lieth upon 
the top of a mast," — '' I will seek it yet again." Relative to his putting 
his re.solve into execution, rcp<irt farther depones that though, on return- 
ing from his first visit, he had, "soon after ho had left the spot," taken 
the /precaution, — a /^rethought which, it seems, certainly came after- 
wards, — of " lopping off bushes " with a view to being able without dif- 
ficulty to find "the spot" again; yet "the lead-rock " was somehow 
missing, and " he never could find it more." This annoyance was a vex- 
atious one, no doubt, because lead was a 'precious metal' then ; the un- 
successful atten)pt to find the great treasure having been made a centtiry 
ago, in 'the times of the old FnMidi war.' when 'that article' was in 
great requisition. 

Such a leaden rock itself^ could it only have l>ecn found (miU made 
accessible to ordinary wights), would surely have proved indefinitely 
valuable. And then tho lead mine, of which the rock, thus far but n 
hypothetical radix and expiment, should be. if it ould be, demonstrated 
tfif actual head-piece indeed, yet mere excrescence, — what les.^ f<ir value 
uouM this mine be, than an ci<fh(h ' wonder of the world ?' Some such 
ihdught may have been in the n>ind.s of many when, during tiie war of 
the American revolution, lead had again come into 'e\tni demand,' and 
at Litchfield people were converting into Mnisket-lmlls the leaden stiitue, 
brought from New Vork, of (ieorge 111., of Kngland. late their king. 
Whatever their reasoning (?) nuiy liave been, persons in Harwinton ami 
persons belonging to Towns in its neighborhood determined that, it it 
were po.ssible, this wonderful 'depository' and 'excretory' of lead should 
be found, antl, when found, applie<l to the uses for whi<h, at that time, 
it was bv |)atriotism e^poiiallv reipiired. So therf aoiendded her.». on n 



130 

day appointed, as some accounts give the number, five hundred men, as 
other accounts estimate, one hundred men, with the design, as they ex- 
pressed it, "to drive the woods," that is, or was, to make a careful and 
dihgent search through the forest in order to ascertain the 'local habita- 
tion ' of the deposit which of lead-mine had so long been endowed with 
but variations of ' a name.' Among the persons collected on the occa- 
sion of this 'searching experiment,' were three clergymen ; Rev. Samuel 
J. Mills, of Torringford, whom the aged among us remember as an old 
man of a gravity as amazing as his facetiousness combined with it was 
prodigious, but who was, at the time referred to, quite young; Rev. An- 
drew Storrs, of Plymouth (, then Northbury), a person at that time in 
ripe middle age ; and Rev. Samuel Newell, of Bristol (, then New Cam- 
bridge), at that time a pastor who had seen a whole generation grow up 
under his ministrations. (Harwinton pastorate had been ' taking a va- 
cation,' or had its first interregnum.) The better to accomplish their 
design, the company divided themselves into three divisions, each of 
which took a specified part of the 'suspected territory' for its pecuhar 
'field of examination,' The 'central division,' within whose range the 
discovery was probably deemed the most likely to be made, was, appa- 
rently as being then more than is usual regarded 'the post of honor,' 
accorded to the leadership of the venerable pastor from Bristol. Head- 
ing his 'detach' -TOe[a]n<, "he carried the bell " which. — with as much 
forethoughtful wisdom as that, wherewith 

. . . .mistress Gilpin (careful soul) 

Had two stone-bottles found, 
To bold the liquor that she loved. 

And keep it safe and sound, — 

had been provided, to give notice, as quickly and as widely as possible, 
of ' the discovery' — when it should come. Through the whole of that 
memorable day, each party pushed on, "faint though pursuing" — inquiries. 
When night came, all the persons went home — wise enough not to en- 
gage a second time in such ' exploration.' It may be or once might 
have been learned, however, from the individuals to whom the writer 
and those who read this veracious chronicle are indebted for the knowl- 
edge of the matter, that, since that 'expedition,' other parties, consisting, 
in each instance, of fewer persons, have with the equivocal aid of for- 
tune-tellers, made similar re-searching land- 'voyages of discovery' in the 
same territory, for the same purpose, and been, for their pains, reward- 
ed — with the same 'discouraging success.' 

Some time after the great ' expedition ' had, as above narrated, per- 
formed their redoubtable exploit, a Mr. Tyler, whose house was near 
the woods in which the aforesaid perfunctory failure was made, did, as 
he told to the writer's informant and to another person, "come acciden- 
tally" up to "the great lead rock," when he chanced one day to be 
hunting Thinking, as he said, " that it would now serve him as good 
a purpose as it in former times had served other persons," he cut off 
from it such a piece, regarding weight, as he could conveniently carry, 
and, bearing the piece on his shoulders, ' took up his line of march ' for 
home. He had not, so he affirmed, got far onward, when, from an in- 



131 

visible hand — belonging to an unamiable [K-rsonage that iifcd not here 
be named — ''there came pounce on him such a blow " as not only made 
him relinquish his load, but, in addition to the mentsil anguish occasioned 
by the loss of that prize, inflicted on him so great a bodily injury that 
"a long time passed awsiy, before ho regained his [Avonted] strength." 

Such possession of mineral treasures is, by no means, the monopolv 
of Harwinton ; as the statements subjoined may show. 

" Load is Siiicl tn liavc liefti found" '"aljout a iiiile Hoiitli-easl of t}ic Xorthfonl 
Cliiirrh on Tctoket [Totoket| mouuUiili [in Xortli Branford].'' "A mass of it Ix?- 
irip (lmviii(j: been] (lisoovonMi by a person who was liiiiitinp at tlio time of tho first 
sottlemciit of the parisli, ho hnn.u up a jiair of Inick's liorns to (It-si^cnnto tho spot, 
but tho place could not bo found aderwards." — Barber's Connecticut llistoric-al Col- 
lections. 

" The following account is taken from Mrs. Poolittlc [, ominous], of this town, the 
<lauphtcr of the person who discovered it [, not tho account, not the town, but tho 
mineral, to rvit]. She relates tiiat her father. Mr. Josiah Todd, of North Haven, 
when gathering fruit on the Hamden hills [. (jucry, did they reach into Bristol?], 
discovered a mass of native cijpper, weighing al)out !)0 pounds, which he- obtained- 
and preserved. It was lying [. in at least one sense.] on the surface of a flat rock, 
at some places adhering to it. and even running into its crevices. [Had al>original 
smelters wrought there .'] He, with several other persons, afterwanis sought for 
more, but as they, Viy their own confession, had superstitious fears resjx-cting it 
\, poor fellows!], they proVjably did not make a very minute investigation, and no 
more was foinid. This mass passed through several hands, and was linally obtained 
by the son-in-law of tho discoverer, a coppersmith [, which was he?], who consid- 
ered it as very free from alloy, an<l used it in thf course of his business. It existed 
and was used within the remembrance of ilrs. Poolittle ami her son. of this town, 
and a part of it even 10 or 15 years since. Unfortunately |, ixdekd so], no part of 
this interesting natural production can now be obtained, nor is tho precise [, so,] 
jdace of its discovery known." — Statistical Account of the Cit}- of New-IIavcn. 
Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences. Vol. I. No. I. New-Uaven, 1811. 

Our older historian of Connecticut said, in 1818, Avhat is well worth 
attention, that the riches of this country "lie near its stirface or in its 
soil. The .skilful laborious hiLsbandman will derive greater profits from 
•A good farm than he would ol)tain from a rich mine." Certainly, riche.s 
from that source are more accessib]«> and. in the aggregate, greater. 
" Lead-rock " huiders, hearken. 

NOTK \'., PA(iK .Is'. 

Ih'ilth and Longtvily. 

There have in Harwinton, as elsewhere, been seasons in which there 
was less healthfulne.ss than is usual. Scarlet fever and dysentery, with 
nthcr disea,seg ever more known thati wr-lcomed, have sometimes oc- 
furred h«'re. They however, so far as appears, have never had an ex- 
tensive range among Ui», nor been peculiarly fatal. No account,^ arc 
found of any distemper raging here with special vindeme. in his " List 
of funenils, 1818," Uev. Mr. Williams not«'d Hvo persons as having 
"died with mulignat |)leuri3y »»r fever, Peripneinnony | — nia\ Xotha, an 
epidemic verv extensive ;" yet the number who deceiused liere did not 
in that year exceed the ordinary aiuiual number. 

M«»rtuary stotistics for some part ol tin' time are not obtiiinable ; for 



132 

certain jeais they can be acciu'ately given. The degree of niortahty 
has probably varied but little in different seasons. In the Church Rec- 
ords, Books II. and III., are enumerated and named, as having died in 
the years 1790-1837 inclusive, forty-eight years, 909 persons. This 
total embraces, among those who deceased between 1790-1823 inclu- 
sive, four deaths of "strangers" in Harwinton and nine of Harwinton 
people "at a distance." All who died here in 1790-1837 inclusive, 
were therefore 900. Of these there were persons, from 70 to 80 years 
of age, 91 ; from 90 years and upwards, 10. Benjamin Cathn died in 
1767, aged 88 years; John Wilson died, 1799, aged 88 years; Reuben 
Barber died, 1815, aged 86 years ; widow Margaret (Kellogg) Catlin, 
relict of Benjamin above-mentioned, died in 1786, aged 97 years; wid- 
ow Sarah Phelps died in 1799, aged 98 years; widow Rogers, in 

1803, aged 92 years; widow Thankful Bartholomew, in 1836, aged 92 
years. These persons, as may be noticed, deceased before the later 
' spirit of emigration ' had invaded the Town, to leave in it thereafter a 
disproportionate number of individuals extremely old. The average 
population through the period specified having been 1479, the average 
immber per annum of deaths was, of persons of all ages, (a percentage 
of 1,267+, i- P-) 18.75; of persons between 70 and 80 years of age, 
1.895-f- ; of persons between 80 and 90 years- of age, 1.470-}-. 

Note W., Pagk 38, 39. 

Trading and Trader-'i. 

Mercantile business, lor the greater part of the la.-t tilly oi sixty years, 
has in Harwinton been transacted at from three to five stores under the 
care of four or more owners, among wliidi nve named: 

Christopher Johnson. ( !atlin & WilUains. 

David Sniitli. Kellogg & Hoadlcy. 

Joel Bradley, .Vbijah Catlin, 

Clark & Abernetln-, Kellogg & Smith, 

Noble & Kellogg, .1 alius Catlin & Co.. 

Asahel Hooker, Kellogg & "Woodward. 

Pliinelias "W. Noble, Truman Kellogg, 

Sanford & Hungeribrd. Chester N. Case. 

Gay B. Sanford, 10. & F. W. Burwell. 

Abijah Catlin,. A. S. Beardsley, 

Kellogg & Hungeribrd. L. Catlin & Co.. 

David W. Catlin, lloadley & Catlin, 

Kellogg and Burwell, Lewis Catlin, Jr. 

Two stores are at present kept iji Harwinton, one by Lewis (..'athu. 
Jr.^ one by Capt. Phinehas W. Noble; while, as for many years past, 
various persons here resident are partners in commercial establishments 
set up elsewhere, chiefly in Georgia and Alabama. 

Since the present century opened, a disposition to 'engage ni traffic,' 
probably more dominant than among the other Yankees even of Con- 
necticut, has characterized this commnnity. Connnenced, it is believed, 
by a few individuals who, at first, sold "tin ware' nearer home, and, after- 
wards, along Avith that article, various other ' notions ' and valuable com- 



« 



133 

inodilies at the rfmith ; ' sjiuculalioii ' botame, in :i wliort time, all the 
rago.' In itnitation of the example of their seniors, young lads, not so 
well seeing or caring for the unfortunate as the fortunate in that avoca- 
tion, regarded trading, and especially that form of it termed ' travelling 
with goods,' as the shortest way to wealth and so to a desired ' respecta- 
bility.' They were, of coiu'se, eager to engage in that method of cha- 
sing 'golden visions,' so soon as they had, in their own judgment, reached 
age enough for the pursuit. Our young men caiuiot now he seen, a.s 
twenty-five years ago tliey were, going liy scores at a time, each one 
with his own liorse and loaded vehicle, to thi> region where winter is 
mild ; yet some of them still go hence in that direction, matiifestlv moved 
Viy the same impulse toward the same end. This disposition has been 
tliought to have aflectcd the agricultural and educatioiud interests here 
unfavoral)lv. and it lias addi-d strength to the proneness here developed 
for emigratii'ii. 

NoTK X., I'Atii: 3;i. 
Mu n II f'dct tires atv/ MannfaclHrers. 

KiiMu ihf outset there have bc^eu made in llarwiutou such articles, for 
domestic use, as carpeting, mats, brushes, brooms, baskets, chairs (. for- 
merly domestic cloth, woulleu ami limn); aiul, for farmers' purposes, 
wagons or cart^!, as als<» pitch-forks, duug-fork.«, rake.s, ox-buttons, ox- 
bows, yokes, ax -helves, beetles, wedges, chains, rub-.stones, shingles, 
boards, planks, s<antlings. Within a recent jicriod have been made 
here, for exportation, fur iiats, silk hats, palm-leaf hat.s, clock.«, clock- 
dials, Htitcs, fifes, tin-plate ware, bricks, cloth-garments, woollen cloth, 
saddlery, cabinet furniture, veneering stud", pleasure carriages, saddles, har- 
nesses. Most of these manuliictures. following the fate (in this last case 
a desirable one) of cider-brandy, which tiling was, thirty years ago, 
made here quite too extensively for any one's welfare ; arc now discon- 
tinued. Twenty-eight years ago an establishment was set up here for 
making cutlery, e-;pecially penknives. It turned out work of high fin- 
ish, and in other respects of excellence, and was pecuniarily a success. 
The death of the proprietor oc-casioned its termmatioii. Cloth and Avarp- 
ing for satinet were manufactured here for a few years only. Some 
stock in factories at W'olcottville and elsewhere has occasionally had 
owners here. 

It is thought that tin- natural facilities of ilarwinloii, lor manufactur- 
ers' purposes, have not l)een fully appreciated. The Xaugiituc River, as 
within our boundaries, has, as yet, lu'ver been employed to do more 
than, at four or five mill-sites, to give motion to three grist-and-flouring 
mill.'*, four .saw-n>ill.s, and one musical instrument manufactory. At Mat- 
tatuc (, West Ilarwititon), one of the flouring mills ha^ given place to 
a paper- factory. Our wat«'r courses wlien put to the greatest use that, 
thus far, has ever been required of them, have carried lour grist mills, at 
some of which were bolting machines, twelve saw-mills, one clock facto- 
ry, one cutlery factory, aflerwanl converted into a warp-making estab 



134 

lishment, and two clolhieries. The opinion has by some been held that. 
our portion of the Naugatuc might be made nearly as serviceable as is 
that portion of it which, above our Town, flows through Wolcottville, 
and, below our Town, flows through Plj-mouth Hollow. But we have, 
besides those water-privileges, others available for manufacturing purpo- 
ses. The Lead-mine Brook, flowing southwardly and bisecting the town- 
ship into nearly equal divisions, has, — on the forks that form its western 
branch, the one coining from Torringford, the other from New Hartford, 
as well as on its eastern branch, coming from New Hartford, and on its 
course below where those branches unite, — more mill-sites than now are 
or have ever been put to use for moving machinery. The Pequabuck 
or Poland River has, — on its main stream upon our side of the Plymouth 
line, and on that branch of it which flows in from Burlington, — been put 
to some service for mills ; and this stream, which beyond our limits is 
of such importance to the business prosperity of Terryville and of Bris- 
tol, might also, some have judged, be, within our bounds, turned to profit- 
able account by manufacturers. 

Note Y., Page 4j. 
Education. Professional Men. 
In Harwiutou are twelve School Districts, in each of which is kept a 
public School. For increasing the efficiency of their Schools, some of 
the Districts, though rarely, have added to the monies drawn by them 
from the School Fund of the State, sums raised by a levy of i or 1 per 
cent on the Grand List or by a tax on polls. For many years private 
Schools have, for portions of the AVinter esjieciallv, been kept in ' Acad- 
emy' buildings. 

Public Schools here as elsewhere deserve aud, in the benefits the)- impart, will 
more than repay a much greater interest and more expenditure in their behalf, tlian 
in any Town they have ever received. The point to be aimed at is, to have enough 
of them, conveniently situated, made so efficient in discipline and so thorough in 
the training they give, that no private Schools in a Town will be needed. So long 
as, that point not being gained, private Schools cannot be dispensed with, the thing, 
as next best to be sought for, is, to have in a Town its own private Schools such 
for number and so excellent in character, that no pare.nt will have necessity of send- 
ing his children out of the Town, in order to have them well instructed in such 
branches of study as are pursued in seminaries of grades lower than Colleges. 
Good citizens will with regard for their Town show their patriotism by doing what 
they can do towards effecting a consummation so desiralile. 

Graduates of Culleijcs who were natives of Harwinton arc, so i'ar as 
they have come to the writer's knowledge, as follows : 

At Yale College, Phinehas Bartholomew, 177S, Joiiatlian Brace, 
1779, Daniel Cathn, 1779, Jacob Catlin, 1784, Russel Cailin, 1784, 
Norris Bull, 1813. Jared Pardee, 1816, Norman Bull, 1819, Elias Wil- 
liam TVilliam.s, 1819, John Jay Abernethy, 1825, Abijah Catlin, 1825; 
at Williams College, David Lord Perry, "1798, Alfred Perry, 1803 ; at 
Amherst College, lleury NortJi Peck, 1849; at Western Reserve Col- 
lege, Walter Sessions Barber, 1841, George Carmi Bristol, 1841, Charles 
Rockwell Pierce, 1844, John Pierce, 1850. (Joshua Lewis Williams. 



135 

iViiiii rally cliiliUiood :i rcsidriit of }[.irwiiilon, gra<luate<l :it Vale C'ol- 
lrjn;e, 1805.) 

rrofessional gctillcmon lioni in Ilarwiulon have been, a^ follows: 

At(i/rnifs-at-I(iw; Jonathan liraco, Daniel C/atlin, Jr., Grovo ('atlin, 
Abijah C'atlin, Georgf Smith Catlin, William Kellogg Peck, Jr., John 
S. Wilson. — JoN.VTiiAN Brack was, in Vermont, Slate's Attorney and 
a Menil)er of the Council of Censors ; in this State, Member of the 
House of Representatives, Member of the Senate, Member of the Com- 
mon Council ami of the Board of Aldernjen of Hartford, Mayor of that 
City, State's Attorney for Hartford County, Judge of the Hartford 
County Court, Judge of Probate, Assistant, and Member of Congress. 
He was born 12 Nov., 1754. He died in Hartford, 26 Aug., 1837. 

Gkorok Smith Catlin was State's Attorney for Windham County, 
in 1842-43. Hejiresenting the Third District of Connecticut, he was a 
Member of the 28th Congres.«, 1843—45. 1 le was a candidate for Gover- 
nor of Connecticut, 1848. He died, in Windham, 1851, aged 43 years. 
Referring to him it was .said: "As a public speaker, he had few equals 
in tlie nation. Posse.ssing a brilliant imagination, great reasoning pow- 
ers, and an almost unlimited command of language, he enchained an au- 
dience with the beautiful and the sublime ; excited them to laughter or 
roused their indignation. His early death ha.s deprived his State of 
the rich trea.snre which a mind like his would have dispensed in the ri- 
pening of old age.' 

Civil Engineeis ; John Pierce, George Edmond Pierce, Jr. ; both res- 
ident at Hudson, ( ). ^ 

Physicians; Hon. Andrew Abemethy, George Haskell Abeniethy, 
M. D., John Jay Abcrnethy, ^1. D., V. i^. N., Roswell Abemethy, M. 
D., Caleb Austin, Phinch;is Bartholomew, Norman Bull, Joel (jillet 
Candee, M. D., Benjamin Hopkins Catlin, M. D., Conant Catlin, M. D., 
Elijah Catlin, Lvman Catlin, AI. D., Eliplialet Colt, Royal Cook, George 
(iriswold, Jared Pardee, M. I).. Alfn-d IV-rrv, M. D., Charles Rockwell 
Pierce, M. D., Elias William Williams. 

Clergymen ; Henry C. Abemethy, Cong., Oneida, 111., Richard Ches- 
ter Bristol, Cong., De Kalb Center, 111., Norri.s Bull, D. D., Cong, and 
Pres., Clarkson, N. Y., David Butler, D. D., Epis., Litchfield, Ct.. and 
Troy, N. Y., Jacob Catlin, D.D., Cong., New Marlborough, Ms., Russel 
Catlin, Epis., Arlington, Vt., Simeon Catlin, ^leth. Epis., Susquehanna 
Co., Pa., Clement Merriam, Epis., Providence, R, I., Henrv North 
Peck, Cong.. Batavia, N. Y., Kalamazoo, Mich., Davi<l Lord Perrv, 
Cong., Sharon, Ct., Rodney Ros.sitcr, Epis., Waterbury, Ct., and Monroe, 
Ct. In this list, of those sumaraed Catlin the first, in Fiis dav a man dis- 
tinguished for intellectual and moral qualities of excellence, prepared a 
valuable Compendium of Theologv, om- of thf» standard works now is- 
sued by the Congregational Publication Society, Boston. Ms.; the third 
hud been, in the civil service Ccondnctor of tennis) of the armv. in the 
war of the American Revolution. 

Gentlemen resident in llarwinton, ■>! pro|.'ssiuns other than tiie cli-rical. 
lave been as follows : 



136 

Attornies-at-Law ; (Frederick?) Beers, Maj. Abijah Catlin (, 1st), 
Hon. Abijah Catlin (, 4tli), Dea. Daniel Catlin, Jr., Capt. Pelatiah Mills, 
Sen. Of these the first was here but a short time, the third is now resi- 
dent here ; that the fifth resided here appears only from what is presented 
herein at p. 50 with (Appendix, Note M.,) p. 109 ; the third and fourth 
were born here. 

Physicians ; Hon. Andrew Al^ernethy, Roswell Abernethy, M. D., 
Wilham Abernethy, Peter B. Beardslee, M. D., Joel Gillet Candee, M. 

D., Timothy Clark, Jr., J. H. T. Cockey, M. D., Isaac Cowles, Hooker, 

Benjamin judd, Gfaylord B. Miller, M!^ D., Gaylord Wells, M. D., E. A. 
Woodward. Of these, the first, noAv residing but not practising here, 
and the second, with, as is believed, the fifrh. w^re born in Harwinton. 
Dr. Miller is the present practitioner. 

Note Z., Pagk F*]. 

'^ Raising the Meeting-hoKse.' 

The amount of fiery liquid procured for the occasion of erecting the 
edifice referred to, was a supply cpiite ample for furnishing each person 
present with a quantity sufficiently large to 'raise' himself enough for 
his good ; especially as the tradition is that all the persons, living in the 
township at that time, found seats upon the sills of the building. On a 
similar occasion which, nine years later, occurred in Salisbury, sixteen 
gallons of rum were provided, though the inhabitants in that place at 
that time were only about one third part as many as there were in Har- 
winton, when the Harwinton first Church structure was raised. Regard- 
ing a custom always 'more honored in the breach than in the observance,' 
the fathers should, however, be judged by the rules rather of their own 
day than of ours. Those persons had certainly less to answer for, as to 
a misuse of strong drink, tlian either their descendants who a generation 
ago had in use here twenty ' stills' as they called them, (facetiously ? — 
for they were kept in proximately 'perpetual motion,') by which cider 
was tortured into a terrific species of 'brandy ;' or the people of New 
York city who, as a statement current in the newspapers averred, paid, 
in 1858, $672 for 'drinks' of intoxicating liquor taken "on the road to 
and from the cemetery " by those who attended the funeral of one Mur- 
ray, aldennan defunct of that city. The ' stills ' have, happily, now for 
years better deserved the name they bore, being quite among the things 
here unknown, except through memory of the evils they wrought. 

The tradition which Harwinton has, of all the persons or all the adult 
males in the township sitting on the sills of the Church building, after 
said building was raised, is found also, with reference to raising the first 
Church structures in many other townships, as Danbury, Litchfield, New 
Milford, Waterbury, &c. Such stories told of places in Ms. are, in South- 
ampton, Ms., so varied as to relate that, "when the meetings were first 
held on the Sabbath, the people sat on the sills of the house." — Edwards' 
Centen. Address at Southampton. Such stories, like most traditional 
ones, had a nnlural nriein. After the ' rnisii^o- of the frame' was accom 



V67 

plislied, a repast inevitably followed. In tliu circumstances atlonding a 
'raising,' no other seats for the 'raisers' were .so accessible as ' the sills.' 

• NOTK A A., FACiK .">1, H--'. 
' Seating tlic Mcctinj-housc.^ 

The practice of assirriiiiig to each worshipper the nt".ii to ))»• by liiiii or 
)ior occupied in the Sabl>atiiday services, seems to have Ix'cn n«>t niiivcr- 
sal, tliiiugh it was adopted extensively in Nfw Knglaiid. Tims, at New- 
bury, Ms., 1051, ''in consequence of complaints having been made, from 
time to time, of disorder in the meeting house," and in consideration that 
"the abuses in the youth cannot be so easily reformed, unlesse every house- 
holder knows his seat in the meeting house," the selectmen '' hereby or- 
der that everv house-houlder both men and women shall sit in those seats 
that are appointed for them during their lives, and not to presse into 
seats where they are full already." Said officers at the same time de- 
clared, that they had "drawne a list of the names of the inhabitants and 
appointed them their jdaces in the meeting house," and had ''set their 
names in each particular seat where they shall sit, ami the young men 
shall sit in the four backer seats in the gallery, and in the two lower 
seats at the west door."* At Ipswich, Ms., "in December, A. D. 17U0, 
a new meeting-hou.-^c h:iving been built, the town diose a committee 
" to appoint all persons where they sliould sitt in y' new meetinghou.-ie — 
and also to grant pues in y" places reserved joining to y' walls and sides 
of y* meeting house — not to extend aboue 5 foot & ^ from y' sides of 
y* house into y' allies". ...Twenty-five of the pews against the walls were 
assigned to thirty-five of the principal inhabitants ; " for the use of their 
wives and families," while to themselves were appointed seats in the 
body of the house. The men were seated on one side of ' the broad 
aisle,' the women on the other. There were on each side, one seat be 
hind the pulpit and three short seats on each side of the pulpit and com- 
munion table. On these were seated the more elderly people, without 
much distinction of rank ; the most elderly appear to have been placed 
on the seat [s] behind the pulpit. About the table wereseated ten of the 
more elderlv of the iij)pfr cliiss in society. On thirteen lung .seats, on 
each side of the house, were jilaced the rest of the inhabitants, accord- 
ing to tlu'ir rank and station in ,society." On the five scats nio.st forward 
were placed those who had the titles, M', Dea', C\»rp', Serj\ Lt., Capt., 
Q' M' (Quarter Master), Maj', ('."ll" (Colonel), Dcct'. The six seats be- 
hind were assigned to free-holders and commoners who had no title. 
" The thirteenth seat wa.s assigned to the " Boyes." 'f At FVamiugham, 
Ms., 1715, after nine persons had been chosen for the purpose indicated, 
it was " Voted, that their rule for .seating be, according to every man's 
rate or proportion in the £70 granted for the repairing of the meeting 
house." (.\s 'sharp' that as it was cfiuitable.) The committee were 



•History of Nowbun', Ms. 

fN. E. ilist Gen. Rop., Jan., 1850. 

18 



138 

also instructed "to have respect to but one single poll in every mans 
rate, and that rate and age be the two things observed only ; and as for 
the dignity of the seats, the table and the fore seats are accounted to 
be the two highest ; the front gallery is accounted, in dignity, equal to 
the second and third seats in the body of the meeting house ; and the 
side gallery is accounted equal to the fourth and fifth seats in the body 
of the meeting house."* At Norfolk, Ct., the custom of ' seating the 
meeting house' is still retained. The writer of this Note who never, ex- 
cept in Harwinton, had witnessed a 'dignifying of seats' in houses ap- 
propriated to public worship, has often heard as well as seen elsewhere, 
so lately as, in Royalston, Ms., in 1839, a custom not known in HarAvin- 
ton — seats of churches made to revolve on hinges and, at the close of 
prayer, '■slammed down,' one after another in irregular succession, so as 
to 'make report' like the discharge of muskets by a regiment of newly 
recruited militia. Happy that such things are now gone ; and happier 
when, with visible disorders, whatever works unseen to mar the profit- 
ableness of religious services, shall as thoroughly be abolished. 

Note BB., Pack 53, 82. 

Peics, 

Not unfro(juenily were pews absent from the New England Cluu'ches 
of former days. Sometimes permission to erect a pew, sometimes one 
already erected, was by a congregation granted to a dignitary or bene- 
factor in token of honor or gratitude. Thus at Upper Beverly (, Pre- 
cinct of Salem and Beverly), Ms., a gentleman having at his own charge 
built a porch and placed within it " the women's entrance to the gallery," 
a flight of stairs Avhich before had stood in the audience room ; the par- 
ish allowed him to set up a pew in the said room. 

The same parish having, in 1753, received the gift of a bell, ''Voted, that where- 
as Robert Hooper, Jr., Esq., of Marblehead, hath by his generosity and donation 
greatly obhged this precinct in presenting us with a bell on his own cost and charge, 
for y" use of 3"= sd. precinct : In consideration whereof, Voted, tliat this precinct 
do grant and freel}'- give unto y"* sd. Robert Hooper, Esq., his heirs and assigns, the 
Pew at the southerly corner of our Public Meeting House, situate between Mr. Wm. 
Porter's and Deacon Cresey's pew.''f At Pomfret, in this State, individuals, 
in 1714, erected pews for themselves. :|; In Framingham, Ms., 1702, '• Jno. Jaquish 
was permitted to build a pew behind the men's seats, on condition of taking care 
of the meetinghouse for 7 years. Jeremiah Pike, also, had the same privileges."§ 

What in the present day seems more remarkable is that, to some ex- 
tent, pews in New England places of worship had, like ' boxes ' in thea- 
ters, ' private entrances.' At Boston, Ms., at the meeting of a parish, 
relative to erecting a house for worship, 1677, they by w^ay of precau- 

*History of Framingham [, Ms]. 

-j-Stonc's Lecture on the History of the Second Parish in Beverly [, Ms]. 
I" Every man made his own, to box up himself and [his] family." — Rev. D, 
Hunt's Thanksgiving Discourse, at Pomfret, Ct., 
§History of Framingham [, Ms]. 



139 

tion acrroed, Ihat "no pew was to be ImilL wlUi a door into tlie street."* 
At Framni'^luini, Ms., to the i)ernrission accorded, as above mentioned, 
t() Jeremiah Pike, tliere was added : " providf-d lie cuts a door, to come 
into it, llinmgh llie end of tlie nn-eting house." This sort of liberty in 
tliat plaee passed, as was natural, so rapidly into a sort of licentiousness 
that, nine or ten years allerwards, 1711-12, the Town chose a com- 
mittee 

. . .to rcf^ulatc tlioso disorders in our piiblifiuo meetinjrlioiiso;" .ind "dpclarcd l>y 
Iho aivrii manual of the luliahitants of Framiiijrliam, that the cutting off of Hoats in 
tlie meeliii','h()use. and also the cutting of Holes through the walls of Iho aforesaid 
iKK-otinghouse, either for doors or wuidows, or on what prctontv soever, without li- 
cnce for the same obtained of the town; and also the Building or onlarging of 
Pews in the said incetini,' house. witho\it the said Towns License, first for the same 
ohuiined, are disorders to he regulated l»y the aforesaid committee.f 

Pews, as they u.sed to be in Harwinton and as elsewh.Tc ihey still 
may be found, were, according to a style which the forefatlu-rs had across 
the sea been inured to, square enclosures formed by four tall walls of 
wain.scot work against which were arranged seats that, in some cases 
were firmly nailed, in others made to lift up by hinges, upon their props. 
Chairs were placed in them, additionally. Impounded in those awkward 
pens of a grotesquely imcouth and false 'dignity,' children, when cither 
tired or mischievous, could sleep or take j.a.stime securely; while their 
seniors, as certain to be tired with sitting against a perpendicular board 
or harder surface as high as, if not higher than, their heads,— or in pref- 
erence to sitting, as perforce many of them must sit, with their backs or 
sides towards the preacher, contorting themselves, in order to far,- him, 
into postures never voluntarily in other places assumed, — might oftener 
think than .sav, of the pew side, ' Thou " wall of partition between us ;" ' 
and might thus gymna-stically solve, as best they could, the i)robleni, 
how to reconrih' with their circumstances of constraint the apostle s 
av.Tin.-nl : ''AVIi.-re tli'- Spirit of llic Lord is. there is liberty." 

XoTK CC, Pagk J5. 
' Fyihha(h-'(Jiiy JIoHses.'' 

Near to the Church edifice were put up pubsidinry constructions. At 
a Town Meeting, held 3 Dec, 1754, it was 

Uoto.i that anv of the Inhabitants of tho town ..f Harwiiit..i, Sliall hav tho Lil>- 
erty to build Holisos for their Comfort on the Siiboth In'twi-.-n m.-elings and honsi-s 
for" to Slu'ltor their horsos under on the Saboth Day Sum whare Net-ro to the meet- 
ing hous»'s allwnys i)rovidc«i tliay Pont bUn-k uji the highway 

The 'Houses f(.r their C(.mfort' were sometim.s «alled 'Xoon 
Hou-ses;' generally, 'Sabbath-day Houses.' Such, probably a CiUinect- 
icut invention, there formerlv were in Hranf .rd, Durham, Guilford, Go- 
shen, Litchfield, Salisbury, "\Vaterl.nr\ . .V.-. An 'a<<..unt rendered ' of 



•.">now's Ilislnr)- of lloston f. Msj. 
flliatory of Framintfham (. M**]. 



140 

sucli structures by Rev. Grant Powers, in his Centennial Address at 
Goshen, 1838, which has with variations been followed by Prof. William 
C. Fowler, in his Dedication Sermon at (South) Durliam, 1847, and by 
Payne Kenyon Kilbourne, Esq., in his History of Litchfield, 1859 ; may, 
more briefly, be followed here. Built, for the most part, at the joint ex- 
pense of two or more families, a 'Sabbath-day House' comprised, ordi- 
narily, two rooms, each of them, ten or twelve feet square, having a 
fire-pltice that opened into a chimney set in the middle of the building. 
In these rooms were, with fuel ready for 'making a quick fire,' some 
chairs, a table, plates, dishes, and utensils for warming food. They also 
contained devotional books. In the winter, a family, leaving their dwel- 
ling-house early on Lord's-day, came to their 'Sabbath-day House,' and 
having, by a genial blaze which they made there, restored the heat which 
in reaching it they had lost, were better fitted to withstand the rigorous 
air that they had to encounter during the ' morning services ' in a Church 
where, save in a foot-stove, no fire was found. In the same place they, 
at noon, took a repast, discussed the "sermon they had heard, read from 
the Bible or from some other volume which they prized, sung devotion- 
ally, and offered prayer. From the same place, their warmth again re- 
newed there after the Sabbath's public services had closed, they comfort- 
abl}' returned to tlieir home. 

Note DD., Pages 57, Gl, 70, 71, 81. 
Preachers, in Ilarwinton, who did not become Pastors tJiere. 

1. Rev. Timothy "Woodbridge, a graduate of Yale College, 1732, 
tutor of the same, 1737-39, the ' Mr. Timo. Woodbridge, ' probably, 
Avliom a Committee at New Hartford were directed to invite to preacli 
at that place, 1738, was ordained, 1740, as pastor (, colleague with Rev. 
William AVilliams,) of the Cong. Church at Hatfield, Ms., where he 
died, in the pastoral office, 3 June, 1770, in the 58th year of his age. 
He was a son of Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, of Simsbury, and a grand- 
son of Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, of Hartford. The Wyllys and the 
Woodbridge families of Hartford were united by marriage bonds, and 
both families, as the records show, held lands, 173'2-38, in Harwinton. 

2. Rev. David Ely, DD., a graduate of Yale College, 1769, fellow 
of the same, 1788 — 1816, secretary of the same, 1793 — 1815, was or- 
dained pastor of the Cong. Church in Huntington, 1780. He deceased, 
1816. 

3. Rev. Robert Hubbard, born at Middletown, a graduate of Yale 
College, 1769, was ordained the first pastor of the Cong. Church in 
Shelburne, Ms., 20 Oct., 1773, while holding which relation he died, at 
his native place, 2 Nov., 1788, aged 45. 

4. Rev. Caleb Alexander, born at Northfield, Ms., 22 July, 1755, a 
graduate of Yale College, 1777, ordained pastor at New Marlborough. 
Ms., 28 Feb., 1781, dismissed thence, 28 June, 1782, installed pastor of 
the First Congregational Church at Mendon, Ms., 23 March, 1786, 
dismissed from said Church, 13 June, 1791, but retained by the First 
Parish (connected with that Church) until 7 Dec, 1802, wlien, with the 



141 

concurrence of the Clmrcli, he was (hsniissod from ministori.-il rolatiuns 
there; removed, alioiiL 18»»:{, to FairlnM, If.rkimcr Co., N. Y., in wliich 
phice, Principal of an Academy that lit- soiij^lit to eh;vat<' into a College, 
he erected the l)\uldings since occu|iit'd hy a Medical School. He died, 
the Preceptor of an Academy, at Onomlaga Hollow, Onondaga Co., N. 
Y., 12 April, ISL'S. A mail of talents and a good theologian, as well 
a.s a clas.sical scholar, ho prepared and puhlishcd, besides several occa- 
sional Sermon.s : An Essay on the Deity of Jesns C'hrist, with Strictures 
on Emelyn, an English writer; an Introduction to Making Latin; a 
Greek Grammar ; an English Grammar ; Elements of English Gram- 
mar; a Spelhng Book ; a New and Complete System of Aritlimetic ; a 
Latiii (Grammar; a Translation of the Works of Virgil ; the CV.huuhian 
Dictionary; all previouslv to 1804. — Blake's Hist, of Mcndon, in Bar- 
ber's Hist. Collec. of Mass.; Packard's Hist, of Churches and Ministers 
in Franklin Co., Ms. ; Catalogue of All the Books Printed in the Uni- 
ted States, Boston, Jan., 1804. 

5. Rev. Lemu»d Tyler, a native of Branford, a graduate of Yale 
College, 1780, wa.s ordained pastor of the Cong. Church in Preston. 1787, 
•where he deceased in 1810. 

C. Rev. 'William Frederick Rowland, horn a}. Plainfield, Ct., 17t;l, a 
graduate of Dartmouth College, 1784, was ordained pastor of the First 
Cong. Church in E.xeter, N. II., '2 June, 17!)0, dismissed thence, 5 Dec, 
1828, and died there, 10 June, 184.*?. Rev. Henry Augustus R..wland, 
born at Providence, R. I., 13 Jan., 1764, a graduate of Dartmouth Col- 
lege, 178.5, was ordained pastor of the Cong. Church in Windsor, Ct., 
5 Mav, 1790, and died there 28 Xov., 1835. Which of these sons of 
Rev. David Sherman Rowland, of I'lainfield and of Windsor, is refi'rred 
to, in tlu! quotation (, on j). 71,) hereinabove given, is not clear. The lat- 
ter seems to be the one intended. 

7. Rev, Aaron Cook Collins, born at (North) Guilford, 4 May, 17<;2, 
a graduate of Yale College, 1780, approved, as a candiilate for the min- 
istry, by the New Haven East Association, 29 May, 1787, was pastor 
of a Cong, or Prcs. Church at East BlooinHcld, N. ">'.. where he de- 
cea.sed, 1830. 

8. Rev. Calvin White, a graduate (.f "^'ale College, 178(;, died Is.'..!. 

9. Rev. Wdliain James Breed, a graduate of Yale Ctdlege, IS."!!, 
ordained pa.stor of Cong. Church, Nantucket, Ms., afterward a pastor at 
Cincinnati, O., and at Providence, R. 1., was installo<l pastor of the 
Cong. Cluirch in Southlwrough, Ms., 23 June, l.s.')8. 

10. Rev. Aaron Church, l>orn at Amherst, Ms., an<l, — as w.ls his 
twin brother. Rev. Moses Church, — a gra-luate of MidiUebiiry College. 
1822, had, before his coming to Harwintoii, been a pastor s<imewhcre in 
Maine. 

NoTK EK.. I'.vr.K. (;1. 
7?<r. }fi-. Tlnrtliohmirw's Grave. 
A slab of gneissic stone, in \\u^ aucinil grave-yard. liarwn,f..M ( .li- 
ter, presents an inscription as follows : 



142 

Here lies the Body of tlie 

Rev^ Andrew Bartholomew 

The V pastor of the church 

of christ in harwinton who 

AVith filial regard for the 

Glory of god studiously 

Labored in tlie vineyard 

of christ 38 years A lover 

of ])iety peace and good 

order and zealous for the faith 

he died March the G"' AD 

177G in the G3'' year of his age 

Note FF., Pagk G4. 
The IlaJf-tvay Covenant. 

The early Churches in New England, all of them, in respect to gov- 
ernment, Congregational, and, in respect to doctrine, evangelical, l^e- 
lieved that only such persons as give credible evidence of possessing 
scriptural piety are qualified to be members of Churches. They accord- 
ingly received into membership no persons Avho, in their judgment, were 
destitute of that qualification. The views of doctrine and principles of 
practice, held by those Churches, are summarily set forth in the " Plat- 
form of Church Discipline, gathered out of the Word of God, and agreed 
upon by the Elders and Messengers of the Clmrches assembled in the Synod 
at Cambridge, in NewEngland," "the 8th Month, Anno 1 648." That work, 
defining "the matter of the visible church," "in respect of quality," says : 
"The matter of a visible church are saints by calling. By saints, we under- 
stand, Such as have not only attained the knowledge of the principles of re- 
ligion, but also do together with the profession of their faith and re])cnt- 
ance, walk in blameless obedience to the word, so as that in cliaritalile 
discretion they may be accounted saints by calling, though perhaps some 
or more of them be unsound." A preface to the Avork goes largely into 
a defence both of this definition itself and of the Churches as then con- 
forming their practice to the principle it declares. The ministers with 
delegates of the Churches in the Connecticut and New Haven Colonies 
were present and united in the formation and the adoption of that Plat- 
form. This standard, however, was not maintained. The churches so 
rapidly declined from it that, in a Synod held at Boston, 1662, it was 
decided that persons, baptized in infimcy, "understanding the doctrine 
of faith, and publicly professing their assent thereunto, not scandalous 
in life, and solemnly owning the covenant before the church, wherein 
they give up themselves and their children to the Lord, and subject 
themselves to the government of Christ in the church, their children are 
to be baptized." Here was an admission that certain privileges pertain- 
ing to those resrarded as crediblv regenerate should be extended to such 



148 

a?, wliik- "itroH-ssiii;^' tlii.'ir asciit. " to Um- litlirf aii«l tln-ir ail<i|iiinii ••! ihc 
rnvpiiant of a Cliurcli, won; willioiit any fviilciice of brin^ n-fjcncrafi- 
ami WLTi" thc-n-forc not ailmiltcil to i)arliriiiatirm in ilio Lonl's Sn|>|i«T. 
Dr. Bfllaniv, refi-rrinfj to tliis Synod as lii-l>l "when tho first p.-ji,. ration 
wore "•(•norallv dead," says tliat its nioinl)('rs " professod to believe lliat 
none had a right to the seals [of 'the rf>venaiil of grace,' viz., bapti.sin 
and the Lord's Stipper, ] for themselves, or their children, biiMrnc Iteliev- 
ers, and real .saints: however, they thonght a lessdi-rrree of grace wonM 
(pialifv for one ordinance than for the other. And on this principle the 
lialf- wav ])racticc wa.s introdnced." It has, wifli loss propriety, been 
called 'the half-way covenant .<;//.';/c//j.' There was published, in 1710, 
" A Confe.«sion of f''aith, owned and consented to by the Klders and 
Messengers of the C'hnrches hi the (V)lony of Connecticnt, in New Eng- 
land, assembled by Delegation at Saybrook, September 9, 1708;" with 
" Tlie Heads of Agreement, assente<l to by the United Mini.ster.s, formerly 
called Presbyterian and Congregational : and also, Articles, for the adminis- 
tration of Church Discipline, unanimously agreed upon, and consented to, 
bv the Elders and >ressengers of the Churches of the Colony of Connecti- 
cut, in New Englan<l, assembled by Delegation, at Saybrook. Sept. 91 h, 
1708." Among the "Heads of Agreement" arc the following: "II. 
We a^^rce. that particular societies of visible saints, who under Christ 
their head, are statedly join(vl together, for ordinary conununion with 
one another in all the ordinances of Christ, are jmrticnhir rlnirclns, and 
are to be owned bv each other, as instituted churches of Christ, though 
differing in apprehensions and pracfia'in .some le.sser things." "111. 
That none shall be ailmitted as members, in order to conununion in all 
the special ordinances of the Gospel, but such persons as are knowing 
and sound in the fundamental dortrine of the Christian religion ; without 
scandal in their lives ; and, to a judgment regulated by the word of 
God, are jiersons of visible holiness and honesty; credibly professing 
cordial subjection to Jesus Christ." Yet in Connecticut, a.s in other por- 
tions of New England, the new practice continued. Much opposition 
was made to it, so that in some Cliurchcs it was never received ; still it 
"ained so much ground as to be general. In the middle. of the last cen- 
tury there was manifest a disposition to return to 'the old paths.' This 
tendency was set forwanl and augmented by the elder I'resident Ed- 
wards, pa.stor of the Church at Northampton, Ms., who.-jc grandfather, 
predece.s.sor to President Edwards in that phue. Rev. Solomon Sto<ldard, 
a gentleman of great e.xcellence and al>ility, had. in various ways, been 
foremost in upliolding the innovation. Soon after the beginning of the 
present century, the half-way covenant practice wjis at an end. It had 
existed about one hundred and fifly years. Dr. Tnnjd)ull aflirnis that, 
so early as lG5r), "there was a strong party, in the Colony of Connecti- 
cut, who were for admitting all persons of a reg\dar life to fidl commu- 
nion in the churches, upon their making a profession of the Christian re- 
ligion, without any empiiry [made of them] with respect to a change of 
heart; and for treating all baptized pi'rsons jus member.-? of the church. 
[Dr. Hollamy represents this to have been Kev. Mr. Stoddard's nu'thml, 
at Northampton, Ms.] Some CJtrricd the aflair .still further, and insist- 



144 

ed, tliat all persons, who liad been members of chnrches m England, or 
had been members of regular ecclesiastical parishes there, and supported 
the public worship, should be allowed to enjoy the privileges of mem- 
bers in full commmiion in the churches of Connecticut. They also in- 
sisted, that all baptized persons, upon owning the covenant, as it was 
called, should have their children baptized, though they [such owners 
of the covenant] came not to the Lord's table." He assigns, as the ori- 
gin of the party, that the descendants of the planters of the Colony, 
along with later immigrants hither, " wished for the honors and privi- 
leges of church members for themselves, and baptism for their children ; 
but they were not persuaded that they were regenerated, and knew not 
how to comply with the rigid terms of the congregational churches." 
The half-way practice was the expedient resorted to, to quiet the uneasi- 
ness of such persons. It had the odious nature and seeds of evil, though 
when it was devised these were not seen, which attach to such meas- 
ures as, in political concerns, men avIio deemed themselves sagacious have 
found to be quite wretched things. The results of the practice were 
bad. It crippled the power of the Churches regarding discipline. Doc- 
trinal errors and immoralities in life were less easily reproved. It facili- 
tated the entrance into the Churches and into their ministry of irreli- 
, gious, insincere, ambitious men, having worldly rather than^ spiritual 
minds. It was a chief source, among the New England Churches, as 
well of what first came in upon them as (in name) Arminianism, (in 
fact) a comparative carelessness for both the doctrines and the duties pe- 
culiar to Christianity, as of what afterwards has been known as Unita- 
rianism. 

As illustrating a state of things once existing in this vicinity, and the 
contest while Mr. Perry was pastor here, the acts on record of a certain 
Town near this may be given. The dates of these are 1769, 1770. 

Voted, that we think tlie scaling ordinances [, Baptism and the Lord's Supper,] are 
equally sacred, and any person that is qualified for one is (qualified for botli. 

Voted, that we approve of the church vote, viz : That conversion should not be 
a term of admission for Church communion. 

Rev. Ebenezer Booge, pastor of the Second Church in Avon, 1751- 
66, accustomed to make record at home of occurrences incidental to his 
labors beyond his own parish, made in his journal the minute following. 
It was well said of it : "A shghter clew than this has often revealed 
much of [one's] character." 

Dec. the 22'^ 1154, Samuel Mills of West Symsbury [, Canton], was admitted into 
the church a half-member — 1 do'n't know what! may-bo a covenantee — for I think 
some call 'em so. 

Notp: GG., Page 68, 74. 
The Separatists. 

The ' Separate ' Churches were mainly composed of seceders from 
Congregational Churches. The persons who composed them did not 



14:> 

like 'tin' half-way covenant' practicf, ami llioj approvfd, as means for 
I'roiiiotiiig religion and oxliilMting its nature an<l oxrelloncp, various sen- 
timents and measures which many of the best men in the CVmfrregational 
Churches deemed to !)•• of (juestionahlf; proprietv or clearly wronfr. How 
came there to be a Church of Separatists in Harwinton? and how came 
it in Harwinton at just the time; in which it appears? If its members 
dislikeil ' the half-way covenant ' practice, did not both Mr. Perry and 
the majority of the Church under his care dislike the same practice? If 
the former were, as those elsewhere affiliated with them claimed to be 
in au especial degree, in favor of religious advancement and in readincf^ 
to endure trials for that cause, were not the latter as much so ? The 
new congregation may have supposed that they had a fair prospect be- 
fore them of absorbing the old one. 

The Separatists ajtpear to have been, .i-s a body, good men whose first 
errors, the result chiefly of ignorance, were confirmed and whose later 
ones were midtiplied by the persecution, too frequentlv directed bv per- 
verting the forms of justice into "instruments of cruelty," against them, 
When they were met in a difTerent spirit, they were not intractable. 
When they ceased to be persecuted, their peculiarities began to pass 
away. 

Besides this in Harwinton there were in Connecticut 'Separate' 
Churches at Bloomfield (then Pofiuonnuck parish in Windsor), Canter- 
l)ury, Ctdchester, Enfield, (iroton, Haddam, Killingly, Lisbon, Lyme, 
Mansfield, Middletown, New London, Norwich, Plainfield. Preston, 
Stonington, Suflield, Torrington, Voluntown, AVallingford, Wethersfield, 
Windham, Windsor; and, perhaps, others. A few Churches of the 
same denomination were in Massachusetts, especially in it,s south-eastern 
portion ; and some on Long Island, N. Y. Losing in time those j)ecu- 
liar ' views ' and especially those peculiar ' feelings ' which made and 
kept them a distinct communion, part of them became regular Congre- 
gationalists again, the rest Baptists. Backus' Hisb^rv of the Baptist.-, 
and Tracy's History of the Great Awakening, treat of the Separatist.s ; 
as does an Article in the New Englander, ^^ay, 185!^. Dr. Prime, in 
his History of Long Island, says that Riverhead (, Southold), L. I., " wa.s 
a principal seat of those churches which were organized in aflinity with 
the S>/mra(^ Churches of New ?]ngland. Both here and there they re- 
mained for many years, in a strictly independent form. But in process 
of time those churches in Connecticut, with their ministers, formed an 
ecclesiastical organization under the style of the '' Strict Comjrrijational 
Convrntiini of Connecticut ;" and, in 1781, they published a "Confession 
of Faith and Form of Government," which wiu? republished on Long 
I«lan<l in IS'i.l. With this they gave "a brief lystory of their separa- 
tion from the Standing Order," an account of t)ie organixation of their 
first church, anil the ordination of its first minister. In the same pam- 
phlf' they set forth the reasons of their separation, ami " some ol the 
errors that attended" that event. ' 

Contrary to what has usually happ<'n<'d in sectarian nomenclature, the 
name by which these religionists were known appears t4) have been cho- 
aen by themselves. It has tho merit of accurately describing them. Yet 
19 



146 

their enemies could hardly have louud for them one that is connected 
with more odious associations. It hy derivation imports the same as 
does, — the worst term which their enemies applied to them, — the (radi- 
cally same) word Pharisees. Claiming, as they did, to possess, in a de- 
gree beyond that of their contemporaries, the gifts, as it were a monop- 
oly, of the Divine Spirit ; they were not wary in forgetting the classifica- 
tion made by an apostle : "These be they who sejmrate themselves, sen- 
sual, having not the Spirit," 

Note HH., Page 73, 79. 
Church Records. 

The doings of the Congregational Church in Harwinton, with much 
else that illustrates its condition, have, for most of the time since the be- 
ginning of Dr. Pierce's pastorate, been recorded pretty fully. Plainly 
written, they are as readable as they are accessible. 

In every Church, the matter of having accurate and full records of its 
proceedings made and faithfully preserved, is one deserving attention. 
Justice, alike to the body collectively and to each of its members partic- 
ularly, requires that in its Minutes there should be no omission of any 
transaction in which the character of either the Church or the humblest 
person in its membership is involved. Eegard for the present, and, es- 
pecially, regard for the future generations, should induce, not only all 
Churches, but all individuals comprised in Churches, to see that the 
Church Minutes contain, of all its organic acts, the whole truth as well 
as nothing except the truth. "We often err in our judgment of the im- 
portance of things. What we consider great may, in regard to conse- 
quences flowing from it, be small ; wliile what we suppose to be, and 
what, as we observe it, indeed is, of small concern, may have results 
which, long after we shall have ])assed away, will work effectively, or 
be, as having accomplished work of moment, of high interest to our suc- 
cessors. How valuable would be, if we had such, a complete account 
of all that the Congregational Church in Harwinton did during its first 
pastor's ministry. Not less valuable to men in the coming century may 
be, if they obtain it, a true record of what that Church or any other is 
doing in this now current time. 

That the Congregationalist Church in Harwinton has, apart from tra- 
ditions and the occasional references to it found in the Town Books, no 
records of its transactions and of the occurrences here affecting its wel- 
fare during its first and longest pastorate, a period of thirty-six years, is 
a deficiency which regretting it cannot supply. Regret for the past will, 
however, be not in vain, if it stimulate to successful efforts for the pre- 
vention of such deficiency m the future. The records of the Church 
contained in the volume, cited herein as Book II., appear not to have 
been known by pastors who succeeded the fifth. The fourth pastor, who 
in ' a farewell sermon '* assigns to the time of the first pastor additions 

*MS., as furnished by Rev. Dr. Pierce. 



U7 

to the Clmrcli nunle in llu" linif' nf iho secoiij pastor, aeenis either not 
to liave soon tliis Book H., or, rather, ii«it fu Ii.ave known and remem- 
bered i(, 05 OHO hilongiiifj to tlir CJiitrr/i. Whf-n inst-rtinf^ in it names of 
persons a(hnittecl into tlie Chiinli in 1S'22-"J,'{, with some other notices, 
he evidently regarded it as one which his predecessor had solely owned 
and kept for his personal convenience, a private journal. Such, as to 
ownership, it prohahly is. This Book the third pastor begun thus: 
"Records of the Presbiterean const)ciated Church of Ilarwinton in the 
County of Litclifield and State of Connecticut. No Records of former 
Proceedings being discovered, the following begin in 1790." In like 
manner he had a few years before begun, at Southami)ton, L. I., a jour- 
nal hereinbefore (, ]iages 72, 7.'], n.,) adverted to, by stating: "Ac- 
cording to y' rule of Scripture and in the manner of Presbyterian 
Churches, it is tlumght proper to keep a record of their proceedings, 
to which intent this Book is designed. But, before we j)rocced, it 
is necessary to premise that all former Records are not [no fonner rec- 
ords are] at hand." It was the fact, however, that records of the Church 
in Ilarwinton, as pertaining to its second pastor's time, did exist, viz., in 
the Church's Book I. That Book the fourth pastor seems to have 
known. The fifth knew it. In 1858, it wa.s found — straj'ed. Brought 
to light again, it should be henceforth kept with care. 

The Church in Ilarwinton furnishes not the only instance in which 
records, not previously known to exist, came at a late period to the 
light. The records of the Cliiirch at Barnstable (Marshes, now "West 
Barnstable), Ms., after they had lieen for a century unknown, "I," said 
in I7fi9 their transcriber. Rev. Dr. Stiles (, then pastor at Newport, R. 
I.), ''copied from an original mainiscript in the autographical handwriting 
of Rev. John Lotliroji their [the West Barnstable Churcirs] first [sec- 
ond] pa.'^tor. This MS. I found A. D. 17f)9, in the hands ol the Revd. 
Elijah Lothrop of Gilead [, Hebron,] in Connecticut." Copied thiLS, 
they were puV)li.shed in thc> N. K. Hist. Gen. Register. July. 1855, Jan. 
and Oct., 1856. These records, which while they were lost were, in a 
negative respect, invaluable, have since they were found been, in a pos- 
itive respect^ invaluable. The Church at "West Barnstable, where it 
was e.stablished with its above-nanie<l second pastor, 1639, had so- 
journed at Scituate, Ms.. 16.34-^.'l9. Organized in London, Eng., 1616, 
its first pastor Rev. Henry Jacob, it is by many pr-rsons considered to 
be, next after the First Church at Plymouth. Ms., the oldest which ha.s 
been set up in apostolic form since, within "the last day.s,'' the retiirn of 
an apostolic spirit has been esjiccially enjoyed. 

F^acts like those just now recited, though others might be added tn 
the number, are enough to be put to gtMnl u-se. They n>ay .serve to 
show that there have been not seldom made writings which, while they 
were bv all me.ins Church records, in respect to the nature of the mate- 
rials they contained, were by no means Church records, in so far .ns the 
preparation and ownership of theni are considered; since they were 
made, not by a Clerk or other agent of the Ciuinh chosen and directed 
to il.i tl..' liii-iiir-,- lint liv til.' ii.i-lnr. ri< till'' of hi>» own motion, t^pro- 



148 

vide memoranda for aid to him personally in discharging his official ser- 
vices, or for some like design. This distinction, duly applied, has bear- 
ings that 'look forward and after.' It suggests, among other things, the 
following : 

1. Churches, in order that Minutes of their proceedings may be 
made and, with statistics of their condition or other matters concerning 
them, be kept for the benefit of future times, should appoint a fit person 
to do for them that work. 2. Compensating their agent, if he asks 
compensation, for doing such work, they should, by inspection officially 
made, see that the work is well done and well preserved. 3. Pastors 
of Churches doing such work, without appointment to it or interest felt 
in it, on the part of Churches, may rightly regard the memoranda thus 
made as their private property, and let them pass, with the little else 
they leave, to their heirs. 4. It is plain enough, why, in regard to 
many Churches, no records appear. 5. Tlie assertion made of many 
former pastors of Churches that, when they left those Churches, ' they 
carried off with them the records,' instead of conveying the idea of theft, 
conveys or should, unless the fact is known to be otherwise, be held to 
convey the statement, that said pastors took that which was in the high- 
est and truest sense their own. 6. Of some Churches, no memorials 
of whose origin and early history are known, such memorials may yet 
be found. 7. Such memorials now existing 'forgotten and imknown,' 
if they shall hereafter be recovered, will most probably be found among 
the descendants of pastors, or with careful persons who value such 
things more than some descendants of pastors have valued them. 

Records of Churches have more utility than most members of Cliurch- 
es, or than persons in general, suppose. As things whose importance, 
great at present, will become greater with every lapsing year, they 
deserve more attention from all persons than they ordinarily receive from 
any. 

Note II., Page 87. 
Last- Surviving Children of the First Settlers. 

So far as known, there were living, in 1837, of the sons of the found- 
ers of Harwinton, none ; of their daughters only one, then residing with 
her daughter and her son-in-laAv at Milford, Ct., viz., Martha, daughter of 
Hezekiah Hopkins, and widow of Dr. Caleb Austin to whom she was 
married in 1778. 

So far as known, there survived, in 1837, of members received into 
the Church under the ministry of its first pastor, not one ; of those re- 
ceived into it under the ministry of its second pastor, only two, viz., 
Widow Ruth Bull, admitted 19 Aug., 1782, Widow Rachel Frisbie, ad- 
mitted 12 Oct., 1783. 



SUP PL EM i:n T \ ]\ V 



For convenience' sake is hereto subjoined matter which, as first ar- 
ranged, ininiediatelv followed what is seen licreinabove on p. 100, in font- 
note (*). 

The Catlins recently in DeorficUl, Ms., are, no doubt, of the same sleek with those 
in llarwintoii. John, son of Thomas Cutliu (' KetlinR') of Hartford, was father ol 
a son John born in 1G7G, who, it has been supposed, died at sea. Tiiat llrst Jolm, 
it can hardly be doubted, was the John 'Catling' who with others signed, at llrau- 
ford tJt 1005. an agreement to found a Town in New Jersey: but whoso name is 
absent iu the list of thoso who, in lOOG. went from said Dranfonl and founded New- 
ark N J — Hov Stepiien Dod's Family Reeord of Daniil Dod. That first John 
'CaUiiig' too, was probably the " Joliu Catlin " who with " his son .lonatlian" was 
"Slain in y' Fort," and probably the fatl>cr of -'Joseph Cathn" "t^lain in y 
Fieht in Deerti-^ld Medow," on "Feb' y' I^st day, Anno 170}," when "JOO of 
French & Indians (as is thought) AssaUilcd the Fort took it and KiU' and Cap- 
tiv" IC-' of v« Inliabitants" of Deerfield. Ms.— Mamp.shire County [. M.s.. J •Record- 
er's Book : as quoted inN. K. His. (leu. Reg., April. 1855. -John Catlin" and 
"Ruth Catlin" were there and then "eaptivated."—13iograph. Mem. of tiio Rev. 
John Williams, first Minister of IVerfield, Ms. "Capt. John Catlin " (. perhaps the 
one 'captivated,) lived in said Deerlield, in 1753.— Willards Hist. ..f (JreenUdd 
r Msl Of those once in Ueerfield having this surname, survives an aged latly, long 
the writer's family friend, Miss Catliarino Catlin of Cambridge. Ms. 



INDEX OF NAMES OF PERSONS. 

The figures annexed designate pages in this work. 



Abemcthv, 117-119, 121, 122, U2, 134- 

130. 
Adam, 3C. 
Adam."*, 10, 41. 
Ahab, 98. 
Ahamo, 99. 

Alexander, 70, 72, 140. 
Alford, 30, 50, C9, 105, 103, 110-121. 
Allen, AUing, AUyn, 104, 112, 114. 120, 

122. 
Amherst, 113. 

Andrews, see Audrus, 100, 104. 129. 
Andross, 16, 17. 
Aiidrus, see Andrews. 100. 
Araunah, 49. 
Arnold, IU4, 115. 
Ashman, 4:<. 
Aupei, Aui.kt, Aup^ 125. 



Austin, 30, 32. 103, 109 135, 14"^ 

Awowas. nee Wowowis. 101. 

Baekus, 145. 

Bacon, 50, 63. 

Baleh, 86, 100, 107, 119. 

Baldwin, 69, 118. 

l{aiieral\, 104. 

Baiitiim, 24. 

Barber. 2X, 30. GO, 75, 80, 104, 105, 108, 
111, 111-110. 118-12.1. 131, 132. 134. 
141. 

Barker, 80, 119, 120. 122. 

Harnaba.''. 91. 

Hamanl. 104, 112. 

Banies, 115. 

l?arri>s, dc, 25. 

Bartholomew, 30, 43, 44. 58-C4, 89. 105. 
lOH. 118. 119, 132, 134. 13.'., 141. 142. 



150 



Beach, 119-121, 123, 126. 

Beardslee, Beardsler, 132, 136. 

Beers, 136. 

Bellamy, 62, 143. 

Bentley, 83, 9-1. 

Benton, 28, 30, 43, 44, 49-53, 58, 60, 86, 

104, 105, 108, 116-118, 120. 
Billington, 15. 

Bird, set'Burd, 112. 

Birge, 116, 119, 121. 

Bishop. 69. 

Bisscll, 28, 30, 32, 50, 58, 104, 107, 108. 

Blake, 141. 

Booge, 144. 

Brace, Bracy, 30, 50, "75, 104-106. 108, 

116, 118, 119, 121, 122, 134, 135. 
Bradley, 119, 121, 132. 
Breed, 81, 141. 
Bristol, 86, 134, 135. 
Bronson, 25, 42, 99, 100, 103. 
Brooker, 67. 
Brown, 28, 30, 57, 58, 84, 108, 109, IIC, 

118. 
Buckland, 104. * 

Bull, 28, 30, 44,49-51, 68, 104, 105. 108, 

116-119, 121, 1.34, 135, 148. 
Bimce, 10-4. 
Bunnel, 50. 
Biird. see Bird, 48. 
Burwell, 116. 132. 
Bushnell, 102. 
Butler. 30, 43, 50, 61. 104, 105, 108. 

115, 118, 135. 
CalJOt, 12. 

Oandee, 75, 106. 117, 119-122, 135, 136. 
Carter, 104. 
Case, 121, 132. 
Catlin, Catling, see Ketling, 6, 25, 30, 43, 

44, 49-53, 59, 68, 72, 75, 78, 86, 104, 

105, 108, 109, 112, 115, 117-123, 126. 
127, 132, 134-136, 149. 

Cesar, 63. 

Chapman, 104. 

Chipnian, 81. 

Chob, Chops, Chup, 124, 125. 

Church, 41, 81, 96, 141. 

Clark, Clarke, 75, 86, 96, 103, 113. 114, 

119, 121, 128, 132, 136. 
Cleveland, 116. 
Cockey, 136. 

Coke, 112. 

Cole, 30, 50, 108. 

Collins, 71, 141. 

Colt, 30, 50, 104, 105, 108, 135. 

Columbus, 12, 111. 

Conant, 1 1 6. 

Cook, 44, 52, 104, 105, 115, 116, 118- 

120, 123, 126. 135. 



Cowles, 119, 136. 

Cresey, 138. 

Curtice, 105. 

Dana, 50, 62. 

David, 49, 53. 

Davis, 28, 30, 43, 60, 52, 5.3, 56. 58, 105, 

108, 118, 120, 126. 
De Barros, 25. 
De Forest, 98, 125. 
De La Faj^ette, 25, 115. 
Denslow, 104. 
De Rocharabeau, 25. 
Desborow, 111. 
Dod, 149. 
Doolittle, 131. 
Douglas, 114. 
Dowd, 125. 
Drake, 104. 
Dunbar, 119. 
D wight, 37. 
Easton, 104. 
Edwards, 136, 143. 
Eglestone, 104. 
I51mer, Elmore, 104, 115. 
Elsworth, 104, 105. 
Ely, 60, 61, 140. 
Emelyn, 141. 
Fayette, de La. 25, 115. 
Eenn, 120. 
Folsom, 124. 
Foot, 115. 
Forest, De, 98, 125. 
Fowler, 140. 

Frisbie, 69, 86, 115, 116, 121, 148. 
G-ardnor, 69. 
Garrett, 104. 
Gaylord, 104, 117, 119. 
Gengis Khan, see Zingis. 
George III., 129. 
Gibbon, 10, 12. 

Gillet, 28, 30, 50, 104-106. 108. 
Gilpin, 130. 
Goodsell, 120. 

Goodwin, 98, 109, 113, 114. 
Graham, see Gray ham. 
Grant, 104, 125. 
Graves, 119. 

Grayham (, Graham), 104. 
Green, Greene, 50, 114, 115. 
Gridley, 115, 119, 122. 
Griswold, 69, 75, 86, 104, 105, 115. 119, 

121, 135. 
Gross, 104. 
Hall, 121. 
Halsted, 115. 

(Hanchet,) Handchitt, 115. 
Hart, 86, 101. 
Hatch, 28, 30, 108, 116. 
Haven, 113. 



151 



Huwiev, 1 1.'». 

Havfioii, llavfloii, 3(1. U, ..n. :.l, 101- 

foG, lOS, "115. 118, no, 123. 
Higlcv, :in, 50, los, ii.t. 
Hinman, 109. 114, 121. 
Hinsdale, Hinsdell, 28, 30, 50-53, lOJ, 

105, 108, 113, 115, 118, 120, 122. 
Hoadlov, 132. 
llodKt',"ll5, 117. 
Holcoinb, Ctt, 81. 101. 
Mollistcr, 25, 102. 106. 
Holt, 75, 119, 121. 
Holtom. 104. 
Hoinaston, 113. 

Hooker, 101, 119, 121, l::4, IM. 
Hooi>or, 138. 
Hopkiu.s 24. 2G-28, :!0, 43. 44. 50, 52, 

60. 104, 105, 109, 116-119, 121, 122, 

148. 
Hosford, 104. 
Hoskins. 24. 28. 30, 47, 52, 57, 58, 101, 

10.5. 109, 116-118. 
Hoiiph, 113. 
Hubbard, 61. 140. 
Hiinpcrford, 75, 119, 132. 
Hunt, 138. 
Irvinp. 111. 
Jacob, 147. 
James II., 16. 
.ra(|iii.'(li, 138. 
Jeroboam, 74. 
Johnson, 5rt Jonson. 115. W'.), 121-12.!, 

132. 
Jones, 84, 94, 115. 
Jon.son, Ave Johnson. 115. 
Josiah, 8.3. 
Jndd. 109, 112, 136. 
KellopR. 52, 84, 119. 132. 
Kepaquanip, 99. 100. 12«. 
Ketlinp. sr,- Tatliti, 109, 149. 
Kilbourne. 24. lO.t, 1 |(i. 
Kinp. 30. KH, 109. 
Kinpslev. 101. 
Knox, 2.5, 122. 
La Fayette, de. 25, 115. 
I>.im>)crt, 115. 
I.iithro|>, »'(• liothmp. 
I>Hwronco. 30, 32, 109, 117. 
LeiK-h. 11.5. 
I/^^'. 101. 
I/'wi.H, 911. 100. 
Ixjpan, 125. 

I/j<imi8, 28, 30, 50, 11)4, 105, 109, 115. 
I/ithrop (. Lilhrop). 147. 
M"<l'''o". 125. 

Mana.s,solli, .<"• Mo.^sock, 125. 
Mar«h, 4S, 114. 
Mosun, 104. 
Mataneuf^, MaUuo;igo, 99, 100, 128. 



MiKiiislrv, 8... 

Malh.T, no, lit;. 

.NUr><'.in, 83. 

Moacham, 6«. 

Mcrriam, 135. 

Morriman. 28. 30. 43, 44, 48-52, 58, 59, 

105, 109, 116-119. 129. 
Mcssenper, 23-28, 30, 32, 37. 44, 47-51, 

56-59. 104-107, 109, 112, 116, 118. 
Miller, 8.5, 117, 136. 
Mill.s, 30. 50, 104, 109, 112, 130, 136, 

144. 
Mon.son, sn: Munson, 114. 
Moodev. Moody, 28, 30, 50, 105, 109, 

112.' 
More, 104. 
Morton, 69. 
Moses, 37. 

Mossoek, see Maua.ssclh, 125. 
Munson, see Monson, 69. 
Murray, 136. 
Mvpatt, 104. 
Isfabotii. 98. 
Xero. 17. 

Newliorrv, Newbury, 58, 101, 117 
Newell. i30. 
Nichols. 69. 

Noble, 119, 121. 123, 132. 
O^^P'l-Kdoni, 46. 
On-um. 124. 
(Uootf. Olcut, 98, 115. 
(Mmstead. 104. 
Osliorn. 120-122. 
Owen, 101. 
Packard, 111. 
Pardee, 131. 13.5. 
Paul, 66, 91. 
Payne, 128. 
Peek, 83, 10.5, 131, 135. 
iVniberton, 125. 
P.rkin.s, 117. 119-121. 
I'.Try. 61, r,;i-6S. s'. i : i i • , i i * i i ■■ 
I'ii.i'^.i.s, KM. 
rct.rs. 101. 

Pethus, Pethn/j<<>, lVllliii<u>o, 99-UM. 
Pheli.s. 26-28. 30, 32, 43. 41. 48-5.3. 58, 

59,86, 101-106,109, 113, 115, 1 IC. 

118-121, 126. 132. 
Pieriv, 50, 79, SO, 92, 93, 131, 135. 1 16. 
Pike, 138, 139. 
Polo, 12. 
Pond. 116. 

Porter, 77, lol, lot"., H.-i, 138. 
P. It tor. 115, 119. 
Powerx, 17, 103. 140. 
Pr.><ton. 119-121. 
Prim.'. 17. 73. 145. 
I'riudle, 69, 111, 118-120. 122. 
Querimu-s IJucrrimua, 99, 100, 12S. 



152 



Randolph, 16. 

Richards, 30, 45, 49, 50, 104, 109. 

Robhison, 30, 32, 109. 

Rochambeau, de, 25. 

Rockwell, 104. 

Rogers, 132. 

Rossiter, 75, 118, 119, 135. 

Rowland, 71, 141. 

Ruggles, 111. 

Sanford, 132. 

Scott, 115. 

Scoville, G9, 105. 

Searle, 69. 

Sedgowick, Sedgwick, 24, 104. 

Sequasseu, see Sunckquasson, 98, 99. 

Seymour, 28, 30, 47, 50, 57, 104, 105, 

109, 112. 
Sherman, G8. 
-Skinner, 104, 105, 115, 118. 
Smith, 8C), 110, 119, 123, 132. 
Snow, 139. 
Sparks, 104. 
Spencer, 104. 
Standley, Standlr, Stanley, Stanly, 52, 

100, 105, 112, 128. 
Stedman, 115. 
Steel, Steele, 99, 100, 105. 
Stiles, see Styles, 147. 
Stm, 105. , 
Stoddard, 143. 
Stone, 138. 
Storrs, 130. 

Stoughton, 30, 50, 104, 109. 
Strong, 104. 
Styles, see Stiles, 1 04. 
Sunckquasson, see Sequasseu, 98. 
Swinton, 24. 
Tacitus, 15. 
Tapho, Taphow, 101. 
Ternay, 25. 

Tliompson, Thomson, 17, 101, 106. 
Thorp, 82. 
Todd, 131. 

Toxcronnck, 100. lOl. 
Tracy, 88, 145. 



Trumbull, 10, 17, 18, 21, 24, 26, 27, 40. 

41, 103, 143. 
Tryon, 114. 
TuVner, 84. 

Tyler, 30, 50, 71, 79, 105, 109, 130, 141. 
XJzziah, 36. 
Virgil, 141. 
'W'aiiquimacut, 128. 
Ware, 115. 
Warren, 104. 
Washington, 10, 25. 
Watson^ 104. 
Webster, 20-28, 30, 40, 44, 49, 51-53, 

58, 60, 86, 104, 105, 109, 114, 116- 

123. 
Wells, 6, 107, 117, 121, 136. 
Weltou, 119, 121. 
Wesson, see Weston, 52, 105, 115. 
West, 104. 

Weston, see Wesson, 113. 
White, 71, 104, 125, 141. 
Whitmore, 120. 
Wiard, 50. 

Wilcocks, Wilcox, 105, 115, 120, 122. 
Wilcoxsou, 69. 
Willard, 149. 
Williams, 72-74, 76-79, 89-92, 104, 114, 

124, 131, 132, 134, 135, 140, 149. 
Wilson, 20, 27, 30, 49, 74, 75, 86, 105, 

109, 115, 116, 118-123, 126, 132, 135. 
Wimund, 25. 

Wincliell, 28, 30, 109, 115. 
Winthrop, 110, 111, 128. 
Wise, 96. 

Wo()dbrid£:e, 56, 57. 140. 
Woodruli; 100, lis.' 
Woodward, 132, 136. 
Wooster, 114. 

Wowowis, see Awowas, 101. 
Wyllys, 28,30, 56, 59,104, 109, 117. 

122, 140. 
Yale, 50. 
Zcchariah, 11. 
Zell, 69. 
Zingis (, Gengis Khan), 12. 



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